Police ‘misunderstood’ by govt
The Police Federation has widened its attack on Gordon Brown and Jacqui Smith, saying the government does not “understand” police officers.
In an interview to the Daily Telegraph the organisation’s chairperson Jan Berry claims the prime minister is instinctively supportive of other public sector works but is more suspicious of the police, who are “more akin to the military”.
Her criticism comes after she called for Ms Smith to resign as home secretary on Wednesday over the decision not to backdate a police arbitration panel-recommended 2.5 per cent pay rise to September 1st.
“I don’t think they understand the police but they should be able to empathise,” she said.
“You cannot say ‘you’re brilliant, you’re brave we rely on you and we’ll always be there for you’ – as Gordon Brown did – and then go and do this. Personally and professionally I find it very sad.”
Immigration minister Stephen Byrne leapt to Ms Smith’s defence on the issue on BBC Radio 4’s Any Questions? programme, citing the need to keep inflation down and maintain a hard negotiating stance with other public sector workers.
“Governments aren’t asked by the electorate just to follow their heart, they are actually paid to think things through,” he said.
“Although this is really tough, we do know that there are risks in the wider world at the moment.”
Ms Berry’s Police Federation is balloting members on whether its leaders should seek permission for a right to strike. At present the law prevents police from taking industrial action.
“I don’t think police officers want to go on strike, I hope there won’t be any wildcat strikes,” she added.
“At the moment we have the moral high ground. If police officers do anything that puts the public offside that would be extremely damaging for them, but I won’t say ‘don’t go on strike’. They have to have their say.”
