Libdems support Police protests over pay

1.04.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 24th Jan 2008

Libdems call for the police to get a fair pay deal

An estimated 25,000 police officers marched in central London yesterday in a protest over pay. Officers are angry that a 2.5% pay rise has been backdated to 1 December for officers in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Liberal Democrats London Mayoral candidate Brian Paddick, a former Met Police Deputy Assistant Commissioner, took part in the march.

Tower Hamlets Group Leader Stephanie Eaton said "It is essential that the Police feel that they are being treated fairly in comparison with other public sector workers. Police officers that I meet tell me that morale is low and they do not feel their work is fully appreciated by the government. Our community needs a police service that is energised and satisfied with their pay and conditions."

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg MP said "The Government must of course be responsible about public sector pay. But what is the point of an independent review if ministers are going to ignore it? The Government could backdate the full 2.5% pay rise for less than half the money they have poured into the Identity Cards scheme. This is a matter of the basic covenant between the police and the state. Every officer in the country has been treated with contempt by the Government. The police deserve their pay rise in full, today."