Police set for strike rights ballot

My Account
Logout

Create an Evening Standard Account

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Welcome! Sign in here

Use your social network

Save time by using your existing account to sign in to Evening Standard

We'll never share your information or post anything to your account without your permission

Forgot your password ?

Registration

* indicates fields that are mandatory

Email *

Password *

Confirm Password *

First name *

Surname *

Postcode *

Country *

Mobile phone number

Username *

Gender *

Year of birth *

When you sign up...

You will have access to all our online competitions, discounted offers and can post comments on our site.

You will also receive The Weekender newsletter sent every Thursday - it’s full of fantastic offers and ideas for the weekend. You can update your email preferences in your account page when you log in.

Other newsletters and emails

Homes & Property Newsletter - Yes I want to receive the weekly email with all the latest news on property in the capital

Occasionally we would also like to send you relevant emails detailing specific offers either from ourselves or carefully selected partners. If you would prefer not to receive these then please tick the appropriate boxes below. We will never pass on your details.

I do not want to receive additional offers and information from the Evening Standard

I do not want to receive additional offers and information sent by Evening Standard on behalf of carefully selected partners

Terms and Conditions

* I have read, understood and agree to be bound by the terms and conditions of Evening Standard

Registration

Mail Sent for Registration Confirmation.

A confirmation email has been sent. Please activate your account by clicking on the activation link sent in your mail box.

Leaders of rank-and-file officers said the increasingly bitter pay row with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was expected to force a new debate on whether officers should have industrial rights.

A special meeting of 800 to 1,000 officers from all ranks will take place this week in Westminster to decide the next moves.

Police are currently banned by law from taking industrial action - including a strike.

A decision to ballot members could lead to a vote in favour of re-negotiating police officers' working rights.

Police Federation chairman Jan Berry said: "I think we are definitely going to have to ballot people. There is so much anger and frustration out there at the moment. People who once would have sat back are now saying 'enough is enough'."

The Home Secretary announced last week that officers in England and Wales would receive a 2.5% increase - but said it would be implemented from December 1 rather than September 1 as expected.

The Police Federation, which represents frontline officers, pointed out this in fact represented a pay rise of just 1.9% and threatened legal action.

Ms Berry said officers had lost faith in the pay resolution system after the pay rise was effectively devalued by the Home Secretary.

The chairman said she expected officers would be balloted on whether they would like to have industrial rights or, alternatively, access to a pay resolution system whose agreements would have to be adhered to by both sides. "We will be asking officers if they want access to full industrial rights or a binding arbitration system, because at the moment we have neither," said Ms Berry.