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| Police in protest rally over pay | Police in protest rally over pay |
| (39 minutes later) | |
| An estimated 22,500 police officers have marched in central London in a protest over pay. | An estimated 22,500 police officers have marched 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. |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would have liked to pay more but it was part of the "fight against inflation". | Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he would have liked to pay more but it was part of the "fight against inflation". |
| 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. |
| But police say the rise is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where it has been backdated to 1 September. | But police say the rise is effectively a 1.9% increase, unlike Scotland where it has been backdated to 1 September. |
| Anger felt | Anger felt |
| The rally was the first mass demonstration by police since 5,000 officers protested against plans for more flexible pay and conditions six years ago. | The rally was 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 |
| Both the Met Police and the Police Federation estimated that 22,500 officers had joined the march. The federation said it had run out of the 15,000 baseball caps it had brought for protesters. | Both the Met Police and the Police Federation estimated that 22,500 officers had joined the march. The federation said it had run out of the 15,000 baseball caps it had brought for protesters. |
| Only a small number of uniformed officers had been deployed to man what was largely a quiet and orderly protest. | Only a small number of uniformed officers had been deployed to man what was largely a quiet and orderly protest. |
| All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount Jan Berry, Police Federation A very orderly protestCan police protest within law? One protester, Pc Michael Ramsden of Thames Valley Police, said of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith: "I feel we have been lied to. We have no confidence in her at all." | All we're asking for is what the independent arbiters said was the right amount Jan Berry, Police Federation A very orderly protestCan police protest within law? One protester, Pc Michael Ramsden of Thames Valley Police, said of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith: "I feel we have been lied to. We have no confidence in her at all." |
| Another, Tony Metcalfe, of Greater Manchester Police, added: "They keep comparing us to teachers but I don't see any teachers rolling around in the street in someone else's blood on Saturday nights sorting people's lives out." | Another, Tony Metcalfe, of Greater Manchester Police, added: "They keep comparing us to teachers but I don't see any teachers rolling around in the street in someone else's blood on Saturday nights sorting people's lives out." |
| Detective Constable Emma Chapman, from the Metropolitan Police, said she hoped the protest had made the government "sit up and take notice" and repeated calls for the home secretary to resign. | Detective Constable Emma Chapman, from the Metropolitan Police, said she hoped the protest had made the government "sit up and take notice" and repeated calls for the home secretary to resign. |
| Officers from Scotland showed support for their colleagues by taking part, as did some from higher ranks, including superintendents. | Officers from Scotland showed support for their colleagues by taking part, as did 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 |
| Some of the marchers visited Parliament to lobby their MPs. | Some of the marchers visited Parliament to lobby their MPs. |
| A smaller rally at Central Hall in Westminster, consisting of 3,500 officers, was followed by Police Federation chairman Jan Berry presenting a petition to Downing Street and meeting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith. | A smaller rally at Central Hall in Westminster, consisting of 3,500 officers, was 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. |
| Speaking at the Westminster rally, Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, said it was "a disgrace" that the government had "let the officers down." | |
| "It is a matter of the basic covenant between the police and the state. It is a matter of trust. Every officer here today, every officer in the country has been treated shoddily by the government," he said. | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYMany police officers put their own safety at risk every day to protect us and they should be fairly paidFS, EnglandSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYMany police officers put their own safety at risk every day to protect us and they should be fairly paidFS, EnglandSend us your comments |
| Shadow Home Secretary, David Davis followed Mr Clegg onto the stage and said he didn't understand why the government had reneged on the pay deal. | |
| "Inflation? Frankly, the effect on inflation would be trivial. Perhaps it's cash? The government is short of cash, but that is not your fault. It's the consequence of not putting money aside in good years in order to have it in the poor years. | |
| "And anyway, how much cash? Nick just said, £30m. Last year they spent £120m on management consultants." | |
| Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force policed the event. | Some 150 officers from the Metropolitan force policed the event. |
| Union leaders including TUC general secretary Brendan Barber have been meeting with ministers, including Chancellor Alistair Darling, to lobby the government to reverse its sub-inflation pay offers for public sector workers. | Union leaders including TUC general secretary Brendan Barber have been meeting with ministers, including Chancellor Alistair Darling, to lobby the government to reverse its sub-inflation pay offers for public sector workers. |
| Mr Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the police demonstrators. | Mr Barber has sent a letter of "solidarity and support" to the police 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." |
| 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. |
| 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 |
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