Suffolk police on the march in pay row
POLICE officers from Suffolk Constabulary today announced they are to confront the government over an on going pay dispute.
POLICE officers from Suffolk Constabulary today announced they are to confront the government over an on going pay dispute.
More than 100 off-duty officers from the force will be joining with around 15,000 colleagues from across England and Wales in a march through central London later this month.
The rally, organised by the police federation, will march through the heart of Westminster on January 23.
Police, many of whom are angry at the decision of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith not to back date a 2.5 per cent pay rise, are not allowed to join a trade union or take any form of industrial action.
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Matt Gould, chairman of Suffolk police federation, said: “This is not about money, it is about fairness.
“A recent survey of Suffolk police officers showed 98pc feel we should seek a legal review of the Home Secretary's Decision, 82pc want the right to strike and 95pc believe arbitration should be binding on both the police and the Home Secretary.
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“Police officers do not have the right to strike so we expect the government to act honourably in their dealings with us.”
The pay row has been going on since September.
Prior to the recent rise, police constables in Suffolk started on a salary of £21,009.
A Home Office spokesman said the government was “grateful for the vital and hard work which police officers carry out every day”.
However, the spokesman added: “We also have a responsibility to ensure pay settlements are affordable and consistent with government pay policy, including the maintenance of low inflation.”
