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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Police to join in pay row rally | Police to join in pay row rally |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| About 15,000 police officers are expected to gather in London for a mass march and rally in a protest over pay. | |
| Officers are angry that a 2.5% pay rise has been backdated to only 1 December for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. | Officers are angry that a 2.5% pay rise has been backdated to only 1 December for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. |
| Police say it is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where the rise has been backdated to 1 September. | Police say it is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where the rise has been backdated to 1 September. |
| The Home Office said it had a responsibility to make sure pay rises were in line with government policy. | The Home Office said it had a responsibility to make sure pay rises were in line with government policy. |
| In Scotland, the Scottish government agreed to backdate the increase fully to 1 September, as recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. | In Scotland, the Scottish government agreed to backdate the increase fully to 1 September, as recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. |
| Anger felt | Anger felt |
| The rally is the first mass demonstration by police since 5,000 officers protested against plans for more flexible pay and conditions six years ago. | The rally is the first mass demonstration by police since 5,000 officers protested against plans for more flexible pay and conditions six years ago. |
| The government is plain wrong in seeking to impose across the public services below-inflation pay rises Brendan BarberTUC general secretary Q&A: Police pay row | |
| BBC News home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the latest protest is set to command even greater support, a sign of the anger police feel at the home secretary's refusal to implement their pay award in full. | BBC News home affairs correspondent Danny Shaw says the latest protest is set to command even greater support, a sign of the anger police feel at the home secretary's refusal to implement their pay award in full. |
| There is almost no chance of a government u-turn - with ministers determined to control public sector wages - but police want to make the point that pay rises determined independently should be honoured, he added. | There is almost no chance of a government u-turn - with ministers determined to control public sector wages - but police want to make the point that pay rises determined independently should be honoured, he added. |
| Officers from Scotland - where police will get the entire 2.5% rise - will show support for their colleagues by taking part, as will some from higher ranks, including superintendents. | Officers from Scotland - where police will get the entire 2.5% rise - will show support for their colleagues by taking part, as will some from higher ranks, including superintendents. |
| The marchers will form a "mass queue" outside Parliament to lobby their MPs. | |
| A rally of 3,500 officers in Westminster will be followed by Police Federation chairman Jan Berry presenting a petition to Downing Street and meeting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. | |
| 'Solidarity and support' | |
| The federation has warned its members that anti-police groups may try to disrupt the event. | |
| The union has told officers: "It is...possible that small groups with any grievance against the police may seek to stage counter-demonstrations. | |
| We believe that effective pay arrangements for police officers are essential for a modern police service Home Office spokesman | |
| "We would ask that you do not react to any taunts, do not get involved and allow our Metropolitan colleagues to police as they see appropriate." | |
| Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force will police the event. | |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the demonstrators. | |
| He said: "The government is plain wrong in seeking to impose across the public services below-inflation pay rises, undermining in the process the integrity of the independent pay determination machinery that has contributed so much to industrial relations stability." | |
| Federation members will be balloted next month on whether to campaign for the right to strike. | |
| 'Vital work' | 'Vital work' |
| The Home Office said Ms Smith will meet the federation to discuss spreading pay deals over several years. | |
| A spokesman said: "These bring greater certainty, allow people to plan and budget better, and free up time for government and the service to focus on delivery. | |
| "The home secretary and the government are grateful for the vital and hard work which police officers carry out every day. | "The home secretary and the government are grateful for the vital and hard work which police officers carry out every day. |
| "We believe that effective pay arrangements for police officers are essential for a modern police service which delivers high standards of community safety and security to the public. | "We believe that effective pay arrangements for police officers are essential for a modern police service which delivers high standards of community safety and security to the public. |
| "However, we also have a responsibility to ensure pay settlements take into account affordability and consistency with government pay policy, including the maintenance of low inflation." | "However, we also have a responsibility to ensure pay settlements take into account affordability and consistency with government pay policy, including the maintenance of low inflation." |
| The prime minister's spokesman said it had been necessary to deliver several pay settlements in stages to keep inflation under control. | |
| The Liberal Democrats' candidate for London Mayor, Brian Paddick, a former Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will take part in the march. | |
| He said: "The police pay deal is a cynical attack on police officers because they cannot strike." |