Should the police be able to go on strike?
 

The Police Federation says its members have lost confidence in Jacqui Smith due to her refusal to impliment the pay rise that was agreed (and who can blame them?), so are ballotting every police officer as to whether they should lobby for the right to strike.

So, do you believe if they do start lobbying, they should be given the right?

Personally, I don't think they should be able to go on strike, it could result in the government implimenting marshal law (not that we've got enough soldiers to do that), but more importantly, I don't beleive the Police should ever be put in a position where they feel the need to strike. There's an arbitration process which the government basically got what they wanted from with the 2.5% pay rise, but now they've abused their system by not back dating the pay rise as per the agreement.

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Sorry but aren't they already on strike? Friends the other night called for them using the emergency 999 - The Police turned up the next day. :rolleyes:

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The police should have no need to strike, and it would be the last straw for law and order in this country if it came to that.

However, if the government doesn't uphold it's part of the bargain and adhere to the pay review body, then why should the police be expected to play by the rules too?

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It depends on what they mean by 'strike'. Are they implying they'll refuse to wear the uniform, or that they'll turn up for a shift and just stay inside? If it's the former then it's a very large NO.

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Quite, anyone should have the right to withhold labour, to do otherwise invites abuse of power.

However, if they organise picket lines, I want to see former Yorkshire miners drafted in as strike-breakers. It's more than time for a rematch.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Orgreave

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Several people I've spoken with have said that if the police don't get their agreed pay rise, and aren't able to strike, then maybe a mass resignation (or the threat of) would be in order.

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I voted yes because as i see it these days if you wear a uniform this government takes the urine the whole urinal and the paper too. It has always been that the police and the forces couldn't strike and it is that which has lead to this problem, this government is crapping on the countries best people because it thinks it can. We already lose many good police officers to recruitment drives from overseas forces this will only make that situation worse. Take away the governments comfort blanket and then lets see it played out on a level playing field. I have enough faith left that the police would not strike at the drop of a hat but would only do so if they felt it was the only way.

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It's actually any professional person - doctors, teachers, judges, policemen, members of the forces. Basically if you want to do a job for some reason other than greed, you can be ignored. Be in it for the money, and you get showered with cash. Doesn't quite seem the done thing, to me.

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I voted YES, I believe anyone should be aloud to withdraw there labour should they be treated unfairly

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Pity we can't withdraw New Labour.........

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i thought they were allready on strike, they never turn up when you need them, three days after the event is no good, so i'll offer my support when they offer theres, any way if they go on strike who's going to notice ,a few motorists, certainly not criminals:td:

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Didn't Callaghan's government do something similar?

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I support the police whole heartedly, and two generations of my family, with 3 members of family having served for the Met Police, and have numerous friends who are current serving officers. But, no, I don't think they should be able to strike.

There are other ways and means to protest, and police have sort of gone on strike before, by refusing voluntary obligations that they otherwise would have met (they did this after the guy with the table leg was shot).

Also, comrades, be aware that if the police are allowed to strike they will be replaced by the army. While I have mates in the services and have the utmost respect for them for the the job they do, they will in no way be able to discharge the duty of law and order in any way as effectively as the police. I don't think even the Military Police would know the laws, obligations rights and be able to discharge the duty properly. The thought of the army being discharged to maintain law and order and arrest people frightens me.

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I voted 'yes' that they should be allowed to strike ...

- but I would also hope they shouldn't have to, & I agree with Gavin that withdrawal of goodwill can be just as effective???

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Yes

But if this Stinking government followed the "binding" recommendation's of the arbitration panel it could be avoided, for now, but I'm afraid all trust in the government have long gone.
The award of 2.5% is hardly generous, but then delaying it (making it only 1.9%) is an insult.

How many weekends without football do you think they would cope with, if the police stopped football duties? Currently if officers refuse to do overtime, leave will be cancelled so they have to do it, but with the right to strike they can refuse certain aspect of extra duties without going on full strike.

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Can this option be included in the poll........please?

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Hypathetically yes but I know most wouldnt even if given the option to do so...

Someone mentioned martial law if they did strike, although that unlikely is a certainty the army would be called in to support just as they are when the fire crews go on strike.

Figures may not be 100% accurate but police officers get about 25k (Considerably more with the guaranteed OT) and on the whole they do good job with their hands tied.. A new recruit in HMF gets less than 15k, granted they are typically not as highly qualified but they face a great deal more danger with serious injury or death a daily stastic.

Their pension is also not in the same ball park as the police, I get quite angry when teh fire crews go on strike and we see the green goddess's - What a kick in the teeth for the soldiers, covering for people who earn twice their salary.

Yes the police should get more - shouldnt we all? They are getting the pay rise they should be happy and drop the backdating issue

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Apart from the soccer match coverage, what would a police strike MEAN? less speed traps? That's the only place you tend to see police these days...

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Well I keep seeing the police round here.There are one pair on bikes and another pair doing a beat in the area and this is a very,very quiet residential area with a very low crime rate.

I'm sorry some of you think the police are useless..I'm hoping that you are just making sweeping statements.The fact is that if the government DON'T honour this agreement then maybe you could be looking at complete anarchy instead of semi anarchy.I personally have found them to be very efficient in my neck of the woods..but then I have been prepared to report crimes when they occur.

My problem is that I believe EVERYONE should have a right to withdraw their labour in a free democracy.However there is an advantage in having a force that can be relied upon to be available under all circumstances and that the government cannot expect anyone to stay in the force IF these agreements are not adhered to.If they truly want to keep the numbers of police up and keep recruiting new police they need to keep this covenant.

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The pay settlement was an insult for the Police service as has been the pay settlements for ALL public workers but should they go on 'strike' - no.

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:clap: Might not be the younger police of today but there bosses were there, they were used as a tool to beat people by an unscrupulous government and now an equally unscrupulous government has done the same to them they want us to support a strike!

---------- Post added at 08:38 ---------- Previous post was at 08:36 ----------

How much of a pay rise would you have got without football, they pay through the nose for police to attend matches, bite the hand that feeds you but don't be suprised if they find an alternative

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I think they should be allowed to strike - it's not an ideal situation, but then they are being shafted by the government.

I do find it funny though - the language that is being used - all members of the force being balloted to vote to see if they will 'ignore' the law that makes it illegal for them to strike.

Wonder if that will work as a defence - 'Yes, I'm aware I was doing 40 in a 30 zone, but I've chosen to ignore that law'.

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A couple of points spring to mind:

(a) If its illegal for the Police to go on strike, then who will arrest them and charge them if they DO go on strike?

(b) If they do go on strike, will anyone notice? I haven't clapped eyes on a rozzer all week.

I was however proceeding down a thoroughfare yesterday and I did espy three,yes three PCSO's on mountain bikes.

Two of them had dismounted and entered a nearby cake and pie shop,presumably with the intention of purchasing some comestibles for their elevenses.

The third had been left outside in the cold,presumably to guard the bikes lest they be nicked,and he did seem to be watching enviously as his colleagues exchanged pleasantries with the rather attractive young lady behind the counter.

(c) The deal would seem to be patently unfair. All coppers in the UK should get a deal which seems equitable. The cost, i beleive is £40m. Small change to HM Government. I noted on the news last night that an initial aid figure of £240m was to be direct to Afghanistan to rebuild some schools and mosques (that we and others have just blown up?)

One of the more recent trends of British Industry is to pay people who are doing exactly the same job, different rates. For example,you could be working for a major company,your colleage in town A gets paid more or less than you despite being on the same job grade/description/duties etc.

No doubt this idiot minister will get booted or leave before Christmas. After all,the Police are the agents of the state. After that, we only have the army and that would'nt go down too well would it?

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I wasn't too impressed with that bit of news. Surely we should ensure that our own country is rebuilt first?

As for having the Armed forces on the streets. Arn't they tied up elsewhere in the world at the moment?

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if they do when i call 999 will the army come and help? cos that will be cool to see tanks n stuff!

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Correct me if I'm wrong (which you will no doubt do) but people on the news , tv etc etc are all saying it will cost an extra £30 to £40 million which is as they put it 'small change' to the Government. Don't people realise that this money comes out of the Council Tax bills that you pay (which will increase). Are you happy to do this? Really??? If so, lets have decent pay settlements for ALL public sector workers then - no? - didn't think so.

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If its only costing £40 million, theres a speed camera just down the road from me, divert the proceeds from that for a week, and were sorted for the year.

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I aint great about these types of things but I know the police around my part seem to be on strike anyway most the time (no not really) as they never turn up. Also I had police knocking on my door interigating me about prank calls to a hospital from a mobile I had sold to a friend 8 month before. When I finally found out what happend which was my friend had bought it for his nan who didnt know how to use it so was calling the hospital and leaving the line open. When I explained this the police didnt seem to beleive me at all they spoke down to me as if I were a criminal and they even told me not to go on holiday or leave the country as I may be called to court. I never ever heard back from them and that was 2 years ago.

Maybe this doesnt really have anything to do with this but it give one bitter feeling towards them. I know not all police are like this but the experinces I have had with police in my local area have never been good and so I choose to say no not until they sort themselves out first.

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*Sigh* :rolleyes:

Another one into the media trap. Do you honestly think the Police all just sit about each and every day behind a speed gun waiting to catch the poor innocent motorist? Perhaps you'd like to guess how many traffic tickets the average cop issues annually?

The fact is the Police have got a huge amount of extra work piled onto them (especially in England and Wales, Scotland is OK but slowly the paperwork fairies are gaining strength) and not a huge amount of extra resources to deal with it.

Do you have any idea how long a 'simple' case takes a cop to deal with when all the form filling and duplication of work is taken into account?
Cops these days have a far greater workload and deal with things that even a few years ago wouldn't have got near the Police, sadly these days a lot of people aren't capable of looking after themselves and the Police get tied up with petty disputes and squabbles.

The Police probably won't ever go on strike and I never though I'd even want them to have that option but seeing the arrogance and pettiness of this government in ripping up a deal thats worked perfectly well for 30 years without consultation and then ignoring the decision reached by an arbitration panel makes me think that possibly they should have this right after all.

This government is determined to destroy the current system of Policing in this country and it will come back to haunt them.

People say the Police shouldn't be treated differently than other workers but I disagree. Very few other jobs place the restrictions on your personal life that being a Police officer does. In very few other jobs your conduct off-duty can get you fired just as easily as your conduct on-duty.
Very few other jobs expect you to deal with whatever happens without question or complaint, it's not uncommon to deal with horrific injuries or deaths and then straightaway have to be nice to some thieving junkie who chooses to steal and slowly kill themselves yet still demands the world when caught.

Apologies if this comes across as cranky and bad-tempered but seeing I've only had 3 hours sleep in the last 36 hours and thanks to nightshift and court I probably won't get much more until about 2 tomorrow afternoon.
To put up with that and still deal with whatever the job throws at you takes a lot.

The pay dispute isn't about the money. For most cops it's a couple of pounds a week.
It's about the trust between the government and the Police and right now there isn't any.

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Further to Derek.S 's defence of the constabulary as above, I would like to recommend the following book;

http://www.mondaybooks.com/policetime/policetime.html

It is a great read and details the day to day business of a beat bobby. I beleive the book is written by himself under a pseudonym.

The bottom line is that if a copper nicks someone, he then gets buried under a stack of admin which can last most of his shift.

The answer if you are a copper, is to get out early,nick someone , then spend the rest of the day in the nice warm station, drinking tea whilst you process the miscreant.

Equally,if you feel drawn to felonious activity, your best bet would be to go out grafting in the late afternoon by which time,all the coppers will be in the nick processing the mornings catch.

The book is funny but with a serious side.

I must say i did recognise all the sterotypes and characters.

Re: Should the police be able to go on strike?
 

Hello Russ, Cable forum team, l have never questioned a cable forum team member, but what has the Aberfan disaster, tragic as it was, got to do with the police thinking of going on strike, lf you asked any member of the public, would they join the police service, probabely the first answer you would get would be, join the pigs, the bill, the filth, no chance, the police service do one of the worst jobs going along with the fire service, and doctors and nurses, each day they face danger, so l believe they deserve a better pay structure than most, when you think politicans get, what £150.000 per year for trying run this country, what does the relevant services get probabely half that:)

Re: Should the police be able to go on strike?
 

I think you might be referring to the link in my sig - that's not actually a part of the thread :)

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Hi Russ, Cable forum team, then please accept my apologies, for thinking it was - happy Xmas.:)

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Hmmm the Police, who cannot go on strike, don't get their pay award backdated.
Police support staff, who can go on strike, get their pay award backdated.

Coincidence or magic?

:mad:

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It's just another example of how THIS government has no respect for professionals of any kind.:mad: