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Police pay battle goes to court | |
(about 6 hours later) | |
A legal challenge to the government's decision not to back-date a police pay rise is to begin at the High Court. | |
The judicial review application has been brought by the Police Federation, which represents officers up to the rank of chief inspector. | |
The decision not to back-date the pay rise sparked fury amongst police in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | |
The government claims that staging the increase is essential for the country's economic stability. | The government claims that staging the increase is essential for the country's economic stability. |
The review application is also being backed by more senior officers. | |
Lawyers for the police will argue at the judicial review that ministers breached a deal. | Lawyers for the police will argue at the judicial review that ministers breached a deal. |
The police say that a 2.5% pay rise was agreed, but that not back-dating it to the beginning of the police's financial year in September makes it worth just 1.9% annually. | |
Ministers, however, claim that staging the increase is essential for economic stability, and that since 1997 constables have had an overall rise of 10% above inflation. | Ministers, however, claim that staging the increase is essential for economic stability, and that since 1997 constables have had an overall rise of 10% above inflation. |
Both Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and Prime Minister Gordon Brown have argued the award is appropriate and is in line with inflation targets - in particular, it is within the government's 2% public sector pay limit. | |
The situation is in contrast to that in Scotland, where officers have received the back-dated pay rise in full. | |
Thousands of police officers from across the country organised a protest march in London in January over the issue. | Thousands of police officers from across the country organised a protest march in London in January over the issue. |
The hearing at the High Court in London is expected to last two days. | The hearing at the High Court in London is expected to last two days. |