Police brand pay offer 'insulting'

2:24am Thursday 24th July 2008

The Government has been accused of betraying police with an "insulting" pay offer by leaders of rank-and-file officers.

Pay negotiations broke down after officials offered cops a 2.325% pay award, which the Police Federation said amounted to a cut in real terms.

The fall-out raises the prospect of further embarrassment for Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, who was blamed for a high-profile pay dispute with officers over last year's deal.

It led to more than 20,000 officers staging a protest march through London in January and Ms Smith being publicly ridiculed at the Federation's conference in May.

The new development could further strengthen calls within the police to seek the right to take industrial action, including striking.

Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever said: "The official side's one year offer is insulting and adds to the sense of injustice experienced by police officers last year.

"We will take our very fair and reasonable claim of 3.5% to conciliation or the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal and fight to ensure that police officers receive the very best deal possible."

Mr McKeever said officials on the Police Negotiating Board - the organisation which hammers out pay deals - appeared to have had their "hands tied behind their backs" by the Government.

Chairman of the Federation's constables committee Julie Nesbit, said: "It is a complete betrayal. Police officers will be very angry. If they felt angry about last year, then this year they'll be furious.

"By offering what amounts to a cut in police pay again, the Government is taking its contempt for the service to a new low."

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