Police officers to vote over strike threat
Frontline police officers in Northamptonshire are to be balloted over whether they want to campaign for the right to take strike action.
The Police Federation, a body representing all officers up to the level of chief inspector, called for the vote at an emergency meeting held today to discuss a Government pay dispute.
Police are prevented by law from taking industrial action but the ballot could eventually lead to the restoration of officers' rights to go on strike.
Federation members have also demanded the resignation of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith over her decision not to backdate a proposed 2.5 per cent pay rise for officers.
Northamptonshire Police Federation chairman Danny Kelk, who represents 1,300 county officers, said: "I never considered I would have to say something like this but we are fed up of being messed around and betrayed by the Home Office.
"Teachers, firefighters and health service workers all have the right to strike and what they have achieved as a result are reasonable pay increases above the rate of inflation.
"In comparison, police officers are experiencing a gradual erosion of pay and that is because we don't have the same rights as everyone else.
"We will now be balloting our members to find out whether they want us to take the matter further and whether we should look at industrial action becoming part of our negotiating rights again."
PC Kelk said the call for Jacqui Smith's resignation came after the 43 federations at today's meeting agreed they had no confidence in the Home Secretary.
He added that federation members are also planning a protest march on Westminster some time in the new year.
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