Pay row police to target Jacqui Smith

Jan 29 2008 By Mark Cowan

POLICE officers are to hold a mass meeting in Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's back yard over their ongoing pay row with the Government.

Around 200 bobbies will gather at the rally at Redditch Town Hall next Monday to pile further pressure on the under-fire minister.

The leaders of the region's rank-and-file officers accused the Redditch MP of reneging on their arbitrated pay deal by refusing to backdate it.

More than 22,000 officers marched in London last week to demand a full payment of the 2.5 per cent deal.

Following announcement of the plan not to backdate the pay rise, which the Police Federation claims reduces it to 1.9 per cent, angry officers called for the resignation of Ms Smith.

West Mercia Police Federation chairman Andy White said it was felt that had caused the Government to "dig its heels in" over the rise.

He added that Ms Smith and other MPs from the area had been invited to the meeting to hear the updated position but they had all declined, citing business in London.

"This was the right pay offer but they didn't backdate it," said Mr White. If they never intended to uphold the arbitration decision then why go down that route in the first place?

"Nobody can understand why the Government has picked a fight with the police but we know we have got a lot of public support."

Mr White said they expected the Town Hall, in Alcester Street, to be packed to its 200-strong capacity as officers sought to get an update on the row.

"Something has got to be sorted. We have got to be able to move forward," he added.

The Government has refused to budge on the pay offer, saying there is a need to keep a tight rein on inflationary pressures.