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‘Officers remain angry and still feel betrayed by the decision. The passage of time has done nothing to reduce that anger and the disclosure of an internal Home Office memorandum, which shows the lack of good faith with which the Home Office entered the negotiations, has caused a further sense of outrage. It appears the Government never had any intention of abiding by any agreement or outcome that they did not like.
‘At a recent meeting with the Home Secretary, the President of the Police Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales and I expressed this anger and the reasons why we consider her decision to be unfair and wrong. The Home Secretary gave no indication that she was willing to re-consider. It was explained that it will be very difficult for the Government to rebuild trust with the Service unless the decision is overturned.
‘In the last week it has become clear that a significant number of MPs agree that the award should be fully implemented and more than 160 have now signed one of the two Parliamentary Early Day Motions on this topic. This strength of support has also been expressed by the Home Affairs Select Committee who decided to make a direct and unanimous call for the Home Secretary to change her mind. Similar calls have been made by many Chief Constables and Police Authorities. How much more evidence is needed before the message is received that the decision should be changed?
‘The fact that the Police Staff Council, which has responsibility for negotiating the pay of members of police staff, has agreed an offer of 2.5% with effect from 1st September has further added to the unfairness of the Home Secretary’s decision in relation to police officers, although we are pleased that there is likely to be an agreed settlement for our police staff colleagues.
‘The Government may think that this dispute will ‘go away’ but they have and are misjudging the mood of officers of all ranks.’
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