200 COUNTY POLICE JOIN PAY-PROTEST RALLY IN LONDON
10:30 - 23 January 2008
Up to 200 Leicestershire police officers were due to join thousands of colleagues to protest in London today over the Government's handling of their pay deal.
About 20,000 off-duty officers were expected to march through the capital before holding a mass rally.
Dave Grenz, chairman of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "We're sending down around 200 people and they go from constables to chief superintendents."
The dispute began when the Police Arbitration Panel, which recommends pay levels, said there should be a 2.5 per cent pay increase.
However, the Government has said it will only backdate the award to December, effectively making it a 1.9 per cent rise.
Ministers said they needed to limit public-sector pay rises to control inflation and interest rates.
Officers taking part in today's protest march have been instructed not to react to taunts from anarchist groups which plan to hijack the demonstration.
The Police Federation, has issued guidance to marchers which said: "It is... possible that small groups with any grievance against the police may seek to stage counter-demonstrations.
"We would ask that you do not react to any taunts, do not get involved and allow our Metropolitan colleagues to police as they see appropriate. We do not want other people's protests to become the story of the day."
A website for anarchist group Class War urged its followers to "give the police a record booing".
Federation chairman Jan Berry will present a petition to Number 10 and later meet the Home Secretary, after a rally of 3,500 officers in Westminster.
The event will be policed by 150 officers from the Met.