MORE than 100 police officers from Suffolk were today due to take part in a demonstration through the heart of London over a controversial pay settlement.

MORE than 100 police officers from Suffolk were today due to take part in a demonstration through the heart of London over a controversial pay settlement.

Off-duty officers from the county will join with around 15,000 colleagues from across England and Wales in a march through Westminster.

They are angry at the Home Office's decision to ignore the recommendations of an arbitration panel and backdate a 2.5 per cent pay rise to December 1 and not September 1.

The move means the pay rise equates to an actual annual increase of 1.9pc.

Matt Gould, chairman of Suffolk police federation, said officers were determined to make a stand.

He added: “This is not about money, it is about fairness.”

While police officers are not legally allowed to take industrial action, the possibility of implementing work to rule conditions have been mooted.

This could include sticking to contracted hours and refusing to take part in firearm duties or undercover operations, which are currently voluntary.

Officers could also refuse to use equipment that does not meet rigid health and safety requirements.

In a police federation gathering in Westminster in December, a vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was passed.

A Home Office spokesman said: “We have a responsibility to ensure pay settlements are affordable and consistent with government pay policy, including the maintenance of low inflation.”