Police seek 'right to strike'

Police are currently banned from taking strike action

Scottish police officers have voted for a motion to have the right to strike.

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), which represents most rank and file officers, backed the move at its annual conference.

Delegates agreed it was acceptable for officers to seek to change the law so that police officers would have the right to take industrial action, which is currently illegal.

Senior officers held Home Secretary David Blunkett responsible for the move due to his handling of negotiations on pay and conditions.

Norrie Flowers: "Dangerously low" number of frontline officers

Members voted by 76 to 58, with six abstentions, in favour of a motion which called for police officers to be given the same rights as other employees, including the right to strike.

A separate motion, to pursue through the appropriate legislative body the right to strike following proper consultation and procedures, was also backed by 73 to 62 votes, with five abstentions.

Douglas Keil, general secretary of the SPF, said: "David Blunkett has caused this situation by his actions on our pay and negotiations.

"His interference, bullying tactics and attacks on the police have resulted in the representatives of the Scottish Police Federation taking the decision to seek the right to take industrial action."

'Unchartered territory'

There has previously been strong resistance among SPF members for police officers to be given the right to take industrial action.

SPF chairman Norrie Flowers said the decision of its members demonstrated the widespread strength of discontent over the proposed reforms.

He said the federation was entering "unchartered territory" and it was now for its national committee, which is made up of representatives of Scotland's eight forces, to decide the next move.

It may see police officers taking their battle to have the right to strike through the courts, including the European Court of Human Rights.

We seem to have a home secretary who is hell-bent on damaging the police service beyond recognition

Norrie Flowers
SPF chairman

Earlier Mr Flowers said Mr Blunkett had "interfered" in the work of the Police Negotiating Board to an "intolerable" extent.

He said: "We seem to have a home secretary who is hell-bent on damaging the police service beyond recognition."

Under the scheme, overtime pay would be cut, with officers instead receiving special payments for competence and special duties.

A Home Office spokeswoman said that Scottish ministers determine police pay and conditions, and she rejected the claims of interference made against Mr Blunkett.

Conciliation process

She said: "Scottish forces and police officers would benefit from the changes the home secretary is seeking to introduce, with Scottish ministers, through the agreement in the Police Negotiating Board."

She said that the modernisation package was currently in the conciliation process.

"The home secretary is deeply committed to making conciliation work," the spokeswoman said.

"We want to modernise the pay and conditions package for police which would leave the vast majority of police officers better off over a period of time."

A spokesman for the Scottish Executive said The Police Act prohibits strike action.

"Ministers have made it clear repeatedly, and also today at Peebles, that they are not in favour of changing that law," he said.