KENT POLICE FEDREATION

MEDIA RELEASE

Teachers' Pay Rise Leaves Home Secretary's Position Untenable

Schools' Secretary, Ed Balls' announcement of pay rises for teachers of 2.45% in 2008 and 2.3% for the following two years has fundamentally undermined the government's stance that public sector pay rises must be pegged to 2% or below to control inflation. Ed Balls has additionally announced that these rises are consistent with the CPI inflation target of 2% (BBC News Online).

Ian Pointon, Chairman of Kent Police Federation says,

"The Home Secretary has consistently peddled the line that our pay rise had to be staged in the fight to control inflation. Ed Balls' announcement has shown this to be utter rubbish."

He continues,

"Such announcements just increase the anger and sense of betrayal felt by police officers. They see a group of workers that can strike being treated more favourably than they are - the only group that can't. Officers know they have been double crossed - praised on the one hand for their bravery and commitment, yet short changed with the other."

He concludes,

"If the Home Secretary thought this would all go away then she is naïve in the extreme. Next week in London thousands of off duty police officers will demonstrate with dignity over their disgraceful treatment by this government. We will not go away."

Media release ends

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. Kent Police Federation represents officers from constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors.

2. On Wednesday 23rd January 2008, off duty police officers will march in London and attend a rally to demonstrate with dignity over the Home Secretary's failure to ratify the Police Arbitration Tribunal's recommendation over last year's pay rise and the lack of fairness for police officers.

3. Ian Pointon can be contacted on 10622 652253