Region’s police join in massive UK protest march over pay rise

Jan 24 2008 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

POLICE from Merseyside and Cheshire were among an estimated 25,000 angry officers who joined an unprecedented day of action against the level of their pay rise.

About 450 off-duty officers from Merseyside chartered a train to London to join yesterday’s demonstration against the Government’s refusal to backdate a 2.5% pay rise which was recommended by an independent Police Arbitration Tribunal.

Officers claim because the increase was backdated to December 1 instead of September, it is effectively only a 1.9% increase.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said pay deals had to be limited to keep inflation under control.

Ian Leyland, of Merseyside Police Federation – which represents rank and file officers – said it was about “rights”.

Mr Leyland, who is the federation’s secretary, said: “We had nine officers who nearly gave their lives last year after being stabbed in the neck, run over, or blown up in an explosion.

“We had somewhere in the region of 200 officers who reported assaults that caused people to be absent from work. It’s a unique job.

“We do believe we should have industrial rights but we don’t believe we should have the right to strike and in the absence of that, we have to be treated differently.”

The majority of officers – wearing specially-bought baseball caps – protested outside the Houses of Parliament, while Police Federation representatives presented a petition at Downing Street.

Police Federation chairman, Jan Berry, said the rally was a “turning point”, and a “historic event that will never be forgotten”.

Speaking at Westminster’s Methodist Central Hall, she said the dispute was a “matter of utmost national importance”.

To rapturous applause, Ms Berry accused Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith of breaking their word over police pay.

She added the home secretary has “crossed over the road to pick a fight with the police and shown a total lack of respect for what we do”.

Mrs Berry accused Mr Brown of trying to take political advantage of the police. She said: “Well, Prime Minister, I hope you are happy with the result.”

TUC general secretary Brendan Barber sent a message of “solidarity and support” to the marching officers, who are not allowed to belong to a trade union and are banned from taking industrial action.

Mr Barber said the Government had made a “disastrous mistake”.

As the officers were marching towards Westminster Gordon Brown was forced to defend the pay award, which was back-dated for officers in Scotland but not in the rest of the UK.

Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Mr Brown told MPs: “There has been a 39% rise in police pay over the last 10 years.

“I think people do understand that in the fight against inflation it was necessary to stage public sector pay awards.

“I would like to have given the police more, I would like to have given the nurses more, I would like to have given those public sector workers who found their wages staged more.

“But if pay rises are wiped out by ever rising inflation then no benefit goes to either the police or to anybody who receives these benefits.”

A Police Federation spokesman said yesterday’s event was the largest gathering of police officers in the country's history.

alanweston