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A march that discredits police
Evening Standard Comment23.01.08
Today we see 18,000 police officers marching through Westminster instead of keeping order on the streets of the capital. The irony is telling for most Londoners, who rarely see police on the streets of their neighbourhoods. This unedifying protest will anger many, particularly those outside the public sector, who can only dream of backdated pay rises. The police will have lost the sympathy of many, including this paper, by this arrogant show of strength.
Nevertheless, the Government's handling of the dispute has been inept. Last April an independent review body recommended a 2.5 per cent settlement, but the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith, decided not to backdate the award to September, effectively reducing it to 1.9 per cent. In Scotland, by contrast, officers received the full 2.5 per cent rise. The police rightly resent the poorer deal for England - although that is an unavoidable effect of devolution.
The Home Office points out that the £30 million saved by Ms Smith's proposed timing of the award would pay for 800 more officers. But ministers' call for pay restraint should not be taken at face value. Lower settlements for police, nurses and others would not be enough on their own to get rid of inflationary pressures. In fact, ministers want public-sector pay restraint because without it, the Government will go even further into the red.
None of that is the fault of the police, and they should not see their pay deal shaved down as a result. Ms Smith would do better to save her energy and political credibility for confrontation with police unions over reforms to get more officers back on the streets. But the police should concentrate on their job rather than stage such demonstrations.
Reader views (1)
I take it that this particular paper is a big supporter of the Labour party going by some its comments regarding the march by Police officers just wanting a fair deal and honesty from the current government. You mention the fact that most public sector workers can only dream of a backdated payrise - this is partially because for those people when a payrise is agreed for a certain amount on a certain date they get it when it should be due, if not they have the right to do something about it (if that means industrial action so be it) - they also don't have to work their 1st half hour of overtime for nothing, when they are being told they cannot finish on time due to one incident or other.
- Chris, Manchester
