Furious police step up demand for action over pay claim

Dec 12 2007 by Caroline Innes, Liverpool Daily Post

MERSEYSIDE Police Federation has been inundated with letters from “unhappy” and “disappointed” officers furious with the Home Secretary’s decision to ratify their pay, it was revealed yesterday.

Branch secretary Ian Leyland said he has received dozens of letters and emails from serving officers who are now urging the Federation to consider lobbying for the right to strike.

Mr Leyland will take their complaints to a special emergency meeting being held today to discuss how the Federation, which represents 140,000 officers nationally, should react to Jacqui Smith’s actions through either lobbying for full industrial rights or full binding arbitration.

Their anger stems from Ms Smith’s decision to ratify the Police Arbitration Tribunal’s award of 2.5%, but to backdate it to December 1 and not September 1 (the start of the police pay year).

Calling for her to resign, Mr Leyland said her actions effectively reduced the award to around 1.9%, in line with Government pay policy – which was a “kick in the teeth” to already “morale weary officers” in the region.

To make matters worse, the 2.5% awarded to Scottish officers will be backdated to September 1. Mr Leyland said: “I have never before been inundated with so many letters and emails – such is the anger over the Home Secretary’s actions in Merseyside.

“I know many of our members have also personally written to their MPs.

“I have arranged a meeting with MP Peter Kilfoyle and others to express how unhappy our police officers are and to see what can be done to resolve this issue.

“Morale is low and there is some talk of industrial action. Most people are frustrated that we have no means of protesting about bad treatment. Officers are dismayed and disappointed.”