Brake Backs Police Officers Over Pay

5.42.23pm GMT Thu 10th Jan 2008

Tom Brake MP, newly appointed Shadow Home Office Spokesman for the Liberal Democrats and MP for Carshalton and Wallington, in a parliamentary debate yesterday backed police officers rejection of the Government's pay offer of 1.9%. Officers were offered a 2.5% by an arbitration panel but for the first time in 30 years the Government failed to abide by the panel's recommendation.

Commenting in a debate on the issue Mr Brake said "It is clear that the trust between the Government and police officers has been broken….The Home Office could repair the damage at the stroke of the pen by signing up to the deal."

Commenting on the numerous emails and letters he has received from his constituents Mr Brake said "This is the number one issue in my postbag today. I have had over 85 emails or letters from police officers and their spouses expressing anger at the Government's refusal to honour the pay settlement."

One such letter is from a local police officer who stated "I have been a police officer for over 10 years but feel my time of policing the streets is coming to an end…Morale is at a real all time low in the service…This dispute is not about the £200 we lose … but the way this government is eroding everything it touches".