It has been illegal for the police force to strike since 1919 but after the government's latest pay offer was met with dismay and anger, leading officers are saying they may be forced to press for the law to be changed.
Officers' representatives a
sked for a 3.5 per cent rise, which the Police Federation says is 'very fair and reasonable'.
But the official side of the Police Negotiating Board has instead offered 2.235 per cent, which the Police Federation says is an insult.
The Police Negotiating Board is made up of two sides, the staff side and the official side.
The federation says that in most other areas of public services such a low offer would lead to industrial action.
Both sides are now expected to go to an independant arbitrator but it is feared that like last year the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith will once again reject the amount settled on.
If this happens police say it is against their human rights not to be able to take industrial action and they will fight for the right to strike.
Geoff Crowe, chairman of Hampshire Police Federation, said: 'We'll go into arbitration and they will probably settle on an amount in between, which both sides will be bound to.
'But last year the government refused to backdate the pay which reduced the 2.5 per cent arbitration settlement to 1.9 per cent.
'We're worried that will happen again and if it does we will go to the European courts to fight for our right to strike. Currently the only option open to us is a protest march.
'The officers we represent will be bitterly disappointed that yet again their increased performance with less and less resources is not being recognised.'
The official side of the Police Negotiating Board said police were made a 'generous offer'.
A spokeswoman said officers were offered a three-year deal saying: 'It was one of the most generous in the public sector.
'Regrettably they rejected it. That is why we were forced to offer a one- year deal. That offer was in line with the index recommended by the independent tribunal last year.'
The starting salary of a police officer is £21,534, plus a living grant of £1,000.
sue.wade@thenews.co.uk
The full article contains 408 words and appears in The News newspaper.
