Police boss 'disappointed' over pay

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But Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair said the service should offer major reforms of officers' salary structures in return for a U-turn on the pay deal.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith sparked outrage when she announced that a 2.5% rise agreed at arbitration would not be backdated - effectively reducing it to below 2%.

The Police Federation is to ballot members on the right to strike - which they are currently denied - amid growing public anger from senior officers. Prime Minister Gordon Brown has refused to back down, insisting the move is a crucial element in keeping down inflation to ensure the economy remains stable.

But Sir Ian called on the Government to think again - and on the Federation to consider negotiating an agreement over "the balance of productivity against pay".

"I am very disappointed with the Government's decision," he told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. "I don't understand why this particular fight has been picked. I do not think we need to be in this position."

"I disassociate myself from requests for the Home Secretary to resign - I think she is a very good Home Secretary - but I think this is a mistake and I told her that and I told her predecessor that. Not enough notice has been taken of the special nature of policing, in the sense that police officers don't have the right to strike."

He went on: "We've got to get out of this place and one of the things I've been saying to officials is that, as we move into the new year, we've got to find some place for negotiation. Some of that may be that we need to get an opportunity to examine how police pay is constructed.

"There are some things that could be changed, like the fact that all sergeants and constables are paid shift allowance whether they are on shifts or not, they are paid for their length of service not their skills, and the only way to get a pay rise is to be promoted, whereas in teaching you can stay in a classroom and get paid more and more.

"I think if we could negotiate with the Federation that they were prepared to examine these issues, then perhaps the Government could then find a way of reversing what I think is a mistake."