Police pay capped to divert cash, report claims
THE government capped police pay because it needed more money to fight terrorism, according to leaked documents published yesterday.
A secret memo from a top advisor to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said asking for more money from the Treasury for officers' wages would undermine bids for counter-terrorism cash. The memo says police are paid enough already, and dismissed police leaders' demands for the right to strike.
Opposition leaders said the document revealed ministers were not being "honest and straightforward" with officers, and the Police Federation accused ministers of betrayal.
The memo, entitled Police Pay - The End Game, was written by Stephen Kershaw, director of Police Reform and Resources, on June 29, a Sunday newspaper reported.
He told the Home Secretary that £50m anti-terror funding would be at risk if police wages were not controlled. He wrote: "Asking the Treasury to let us do so risks damaging our bid for significant extra money for counter-terrorism. There is no real business case for a generous pay rise for police this year.
"We should not take too seriously the Fed's loose talk of demanding the right to strike if we press on."
The memo also warns nurses are likely to ask for a higher pay award if the police are given more, and says the government has a "strong narrative" if it came to a public row. It says police constables are 36% better paid than 10 years ago and there are six applications for every job.
Police officers were awarded 2.5% by an independent arbitration panel but ministers decided to delay its implementation, reducing the increase to 1.9%. The decision sparked a furious response from police leaders, who have balloted members on asking for the right to strike, which they are denied by law.
Police Federation chairman Jan Berry said yesterday: "The memo proves how our members have been betrayed by this government. It shows that the government never had any intention of treating us fairly and give officers the confidence to protect the public without having to worry about their pay."
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said: "From day one the government decided to behave in a cynical and underhand manner.
"This is the first government in 28 years not to abide by the arbitration process and this memo shows they did so in the full knowledge of the damage it would do to both the arbitration process and relations with the police.
"No matter what the financial pressures are, there is no excuse for the government being anything other than honest and straightforward with the police force."
The Home Office said ministers face "difficult choices" over spending.
© All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without
permission is prohibited.
Posted by: iain morrison, nairn on 12:49am Tue 18 Dec 07
"THE government capped police pay because it needed more money to fight terrorism, according to leaked documents published yesterday." Aye **** off coppers work better.
"THE government capped police pay because it needed more money to fight terrorism, according to leaked documents published yesterday." Aye **** off coppers work better.
Posted by: Tom McAlister on 1:19am Tue 18 Dec 07
After all the £billions they've spent on their war on terror, £30million isn't going to stretch very far. Better to spend it on eyes and ears on the streets.
Now I wonder who are in the best position to be our eyes and ears on the streets?
Isn't the logic of New Labour wonderful. They've certainly got me scratching ma @rse in awe of it. Gob smacked is the word I was searching for, not ' awe ' actually.
After all the £billions they've spent on their war on terror, £30million isn't going to stretch very far. Better to spend it on eyes and ears on the streets.
Now I wonder who are in the best position to be our eyes and ears on the streets?
Isn't the logic of New Labour wonderful. They've certainly got me scratching ma @rse in awe of it. Gob smacked is the word I was searching for, not ' awe ' actually.
Posted by: dws on 1:21pm Tue 18 Dec 07
A "leaked document", eh?
This dog won't hunt, Labour. You renaged on an independent pay award of 2.5% in order to keep your public sector commitment of having a 2% maximum rise.
Nice try though.
A "leaked document", eh?
This dog won't hunt, Labour. You renaged on an independent pay award of 2.5% in order to keep your public sector commitment of having a 2% maximum rise.
Nice try though.
Posted by: Vince, Glasgow on 8:34am Wed 19 Dec 07
Money does have to come from somewhere else to pay for this however It's simply hohwash to blame the staging of pay on the need for the money to go to more anti-terrorist measures.
It's an old chestnut but no less relevant today. One less nuclear missile in the world would fund the whole year effect - no bother!
V
Money does have to come from somewhere else to pay for this however It's simply hohwash to blame the staging of pay on the need for the money to go to more anti-terrorist measures.
It's an old chestnut but no less relevant today. One less nuclear missile in the world would fund the whole year effect - no bother!
V
Posted by: stuart donaldson on 12:11am Thu 20 Dec 07
given that gordon and the boys are borrowing an amazing £40 billion for the next 5-7 years (from their own figures) and increasing teh national debt massively this reason for scrooging the cops does not wash
given that gordon and the boys are borrowing an amazing £40 billion for the next 5-7 years (from their own figures) and increasing teh national debt massively this reason for scrooging the cops does not wash
Posted by: Mac, Dundee on 11:16am Fri 21 Dec 07
Gordon Brown in parliament clearly said in direct criticism of the SNP government that the imposed capped police pay settlement was directly linked to police recruitment.
Now it is revealed the imposed capped pay settlement was to protect existing anti-terror funding.
Gordon Brown lied in parliament to hide the fact that he was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Gordon Brown in parliament clearly said in direct criticism of the SNP government that the imposed capped police pay settlement was directly linked to police recruitment.
Now it is revealed the imposed capped pay settlement was to protect existing anti-terror funding.
Gordon Brown lied in parliament to hide the fact that he was robbing Peter to pay Paul.
Posted by: Jock in the Box, embra on 3:51pm Thu 27 Dec 07
[bold][quote]THE government capped police pay because it needed more money to fight terrorism, according to leaked documents published yesterday[/quote][/bold] .
Thats funny ,I thought we needed police to do that ?
Maybe we can defeat terrorism if we dont pay them at all !
Thats the logical extension of the governments logic here!
This is insulting to ones intellect...........
..............well it should be then !
THE government capped police pay because it needed more money to fight terrorism, according to leaked documents published yesterday
.
Thats funny ,I thought we needed police to do that ?
Maybe we can defeat terrorism if we dont pay them at all !
Thats the logical extension of the governments logic here!
This is insulting to ones intellect...........
..............well it should be then !
Posted by: Wullie on 2:07pm Fri 28 Dec 07
Yes Jock in the Box, I agree with your observation that the logical extension of Ms Smith's leaked statement on how to fight terrorism is to pay the Police nothing at all!
Yes a good observation but in reality the statement about why the English police are not being awarded a full pay settlement is just more New Labour keech.
Indeed, as statement after statement shows this government is just full of keech. They thrive on it and someone must have told them it was good for mushrooms.
Oh its awfy dark in here
Yes Jock in the Box, I agree with your observation that the logical extension of Ms Smith's leaked statement on how to fight terrorism is to pay the Police nothing at all!
Yes a good observation but in reality the statement about why the English police are not being awarded a full pay settlement is just more New Labour keech.
Indeed, as statement after statement shows this government is just full of keech. They thrive on it and someone must have told them it was good for mushrooms.
Oh its awfy dark in here
Posted by: David Alexander on 3:34pm Thu 3 Jan 08
Now, if only we hadn't invaded and destroyed Iraq then terrorism might not be such an issue.
Ironically, the Labour Party now want to renew [italic]our[/italic] WMDs at a cost of billions.
Now, if only we hadn't invaded and destroyed Iraq then terrorism might not be such an issue.
Ironically, the Labour Party now want to renew
our WMDs at a cost of billions.
Posted by: Los Angeles, Edinburgh on 8:44pm Thu 3 Jan 08
Government Cons Cops[quote]Opposition leaders said the document revealed ministers were not being "honest and straightforward" with officers, and the Police Federation accused ministers of betrayal.[/quote] No, no, no!
According to AM-Squared that is not deceit at all but "politicking."
Government Cons Cops
Opposition leaders said the document revealed ministers were not being "honest and straightforward" with officers, and the Police Federation accused ministers of betrayal.
No, no, no!
According to AM-Squared that is not deceit at all but "politicking."
Politics
INDEX
Comment | Read Comments (10)
