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| Police in protest rally over pay | Police in protest rally over pay |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| An estimated 18,500 police officers are marching in central London 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. |
| The Police Federation, which represents officers, has applied for a judicial review of the decision by ministers. | The Police Federation, which represents officers, has applied for a judicial review of the decision by ministers. |
| 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. |
| Police say the rise is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where it has been backdated to 1 September. | Police say the rise is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where it has been backdated to 1 September. |
| 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. |
| See map of march and rally locations | See map of march and rally locations |
| The Police Federation estimated that 18,500 officers had joined the march and said it had run out of the 15,000 baseball caps it had brought for protesters. | |
| Officers from Scotland are showing support for their colleagues by taking part, as are some from higher ranks, including superintendents. | Officers from Scotland are showing support for their colleagues by taking part, as are some from higher ranks, including superintendents. |
POLICE PAY ROWEarnings lost if 2.5% rise not backdated to September 2007Rank Salary Loss PC (entry level) £21,009 £131 PC (after training) £24,813 £155 Sergeant £32,985 £206 Inspector £42,264 £264 | POLICE PAY ROWEarnings lost if 2.5% rise not backdated to September 2007Rank Salary Loss PC (entry level) £21,009 £131 PC (after training) £24,813 £155 Sergeant £32,985 £206 Inspector £42,264 £264 |
| The marchers will form a "mass queue" outside Parliament to lobby their MPs. | The marchers will form a "mass queue" outside Parliament to lobby their MPs. |
| This smaller rally, consisting 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. | |
| Mrs Berry rejected the government's argument that public sector pay restraint was needed to control inflation. | Mrs Berry rejected the government's argument that public sector pay restraint was needed to control inflation. |
| She said: "All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount." | She said: "All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount." |
| She told MPs at a meeting in the House of Commons that the federation filed documents applying for a judicial review on 22 January. | She told MPs at a meeting in the House of Commons that the federation filed documents applying for a judicial review on 22 January. |
| Pc Mick Powell, a federation official from West Midlands Police, said his force alone had sent 43 coaches carrying officer to the demo. | |
| He said: "Our message to the Home Secretary is that when you go through a binding agreement you should stick to it." | |
| Greg Llewellyn, a Swansea-based constable with South Wales Police, added: "We should not have to do this but everybody that I know that could make it today has made it." | |
| The federation has warned its members that anti-police groups may try to disrupt the event and asked demonstrators not to respond to taunts. | The federation has warned its members that anti-police groups may try to disrupt the event and asked demonstrators not to respond to taunts. |
| Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force are policing the event. | Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force are policing the event. |
| TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the demonstrators. | TUC general secretary Brendan Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the demonstrators. |
| Federation members will be balloted next month on whether to campaign for the right to strike. | Federation members will be balloted next month on whether to campaign for the right to strike. |
| 'Vital work' | 'Vital work' |
| However, Andrew Haldenby, director of the think tank Reform, said police had been given above-inflation pay rises for the past 12 years without delivering a better service. | However, Andrew Haldenby, director of the think tank Reform, said police had been given above-inflation pay rises for the past 12 years without delivering a better service. |
| "For things like anti-social behaviour where we do look to the police to actually make a difference, those areas of crime have not improved at all," he said. | "For things like anti-social behaviour where we do look to the police to actually make a difference, those areas of crime have not improved at all," he said. |
| The Police Minister, Tony McNulty, said instead of marching, the officers should be talking to the government. | The Police Minister, Tony McNulty, said instead of marching, the officers should be talking to the government. |
| PUBLIC SECTOR PAY Police constables currently start on £21,009Teachers' starting salary is £19,161 in England and Wales. In Scotland it is £23,316 New prison officers earn £18,483 in England and Wales. In Scotland they receive £14,373Lower grade civil servants, such as administration assistants, begin on between £11,750 and £14,083 depending on departmentFirefighters start on £20,396, rising to £27,185 after reaching "competent" status Source: Unison 2006 figures, Fire Brigades Union Who earns the most? | PUBLIC SECTOR PAY Police constables currently start on £21,009Teachers' starting salary is £19,161 in England and Wales. In Scotland it is £23,316 New prison officers earn £18,483 in England and Wales. In Scotland they receive £14,373Lower grade civil servants, such as administration assistants, begin on between £11,750 and £14,083 depending on departmentFirefighters start on £20,396, rising to £27,185 after reaching "competent" status Source: Unison 2006 figures, Fire Brigades Union Who earns the most? |
| He added: "My message would be - as the home secretary has said - let's sit down now and look forward." | He added: "My message would be - as the home secretary has said - let's sit down now and look forward." |
| The Home Office said the home secretary was grateful for the vital and hard work carried out by police officers. | The Home Office said the home secretary was grateful for the vital and hard work carried out by police officers. |
| "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," a spokesman said. | "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," a spokesman said. |
| But Labour MP Martin Salter said the government should have compromised by increasing other payments. | But Labour MP Martin Salter said the government should have compromised by increasing other payments. |
| He added: "To lose the confidence of the crime fighters themselves is not clever politics and it's not right." | He added: "To lose the confidence of the crime fighters themselves is not clever politics and it's not right." |
| The Liberal Democrats' candidate for London Mayor, Brian Paddick, a former Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, will take part in the march. | 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." | He said: "The police pay deal is a cynical attack on police officers because they cannot strike." |
| MARCH ROUTE AND RALLY LOCATION March starts on Park Lane, junction with Achilles WayRoute takes an hour and goes through Hyde Park Corner, Victoria Street and Horseferry Road before ending on Millbank outside Tate Britain art galleryAfterwards people with tickets head for rally at QEII Conference Centre or Central Hall next door, others head for Parliament to queue and lobby their MPs | MARCH ROUTE AND RALLY LOCATION March starts on Park Lane, junction with Achilles WayRoute takes an hour and goes through Hyde Park Corner, Victoria Street and Horseferry Road before ending on Millbank outside Tate Britain art galleryAfterwards people with tickets head for rally at QEII Conference Centre or Central Hall next door, others head for Parliament to queue and lobby their MPs |
| Back to link | Back to link |
| Are you a police officer? Are you taking part in the march? Do you work in the public sector? What do you think of this issue? Send us your comments using the form below: | Are you a police officer? Are you taking part in the march? Do you work in the public sector? What do you think of this issue? Send us your comments using the form below: |