POLICE organisations have slammed a Government decision to not backdate police officer pay rises, claiming it would make a bad situation even worse.
The home secretary, Jacqui Smith, wants to backdate a police officer pay increase of 2.5 per cent, three months after their pay year starts.
The Police Federation said this would mean that the police would get a lower amount than any other emergency service or public sector body in England and Wales, and that the original 2.5 per cent increase was already below inflation.
Chairwoman of the Thames Valley Police Authority, Christine Weston, said police officers justly deserved the pay rise recommended by the tribunal.
Mrs Weston said: “This will undermine morale but I do know how professional the police are and they will execute their work to the best of their ability.
"The Police Authority welcomed the award of 2.5 per cent and we believe it should be implemented for September. We have budgeted for that.
“I think the police in Thames Valley are worth every penny of that. As far as I’m concerned that’s what they should get.”
Mrs Weston said the authority was taken by surprise by the home secretary’s proposal but they have to abide with the Government’s decision.
She asked the public to support the police as this was “a blow to many officers”.
Chair of the Thames Valley Police Federation (TVPF), Maurice Collins said: “The Thames Valley Police (TVP) has already got considerable problems in retaining police.
“Morale is already low because of retention issues; this will make a bad situation worse.
“We want fair treatment. We do not have right to strike because we are supposed to have fair treatment.”
The police can not take strike action under an Act of Parliament.
Mr Collins said many officers already leave the Thames Valley area to work for higher wages in London.
He said that since April of this year, TVP have lost 80 police officers. The overwheming majority went to work for the Metropolitan Police Service.
“We have more young and inexperienced police than in any other force in the country,” he said.
“We pay a price for the lack of experience in policing, there’s nothing like experience.”
TVPF said the Thames area has the lowest levels of Police Officer to public ratios in the country.
He also said that morale in the police force was suffering from a target-led performance culture.
“A lot of policing is about decision taking and common sense. It’s about problem solving; it’s not just about ticking boxes. At the moment it’s just about ticking boxes. It’s a tick box culture.
“Put that and the pay rise together and its very bad news for Thames Valley.”
Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, Jan Berry said there were a number of officers saying they should have the right to take industrial action.
There will be an emergency meeting of national and local Police Federations in London next week.