Police to vote on right to strike

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Rank-and-file officers across England and Wales will be balloted on whether they want the right to strike, the Police Federation said last night.

All 135,000 members will be asked for their views on the key issue in the wake of 20 per cent budget cuts and proposals for the wide-ranging reform of police pay and conditions.

Along with the armed forces, the police are the only public workers banned in law from taking industrial action.

The federation said it would also hold an event in central London "to highlight the unprecedented attack on policing by this Government".