Police union says strike ban may be scrapped

Police federation leaders warned yesterday that rank-and-file officers would press for their "no strike" rules to be scrapped if the Government pushed ahead with moves to overhaul pay and conditions.

More than 5,000 off-duty officers will converge on Westminster today in the biggest show of strength in the federation's history.

In a sign of the escalating tension in the Government's stand-off with the police "union", David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, rushed out figures claiming police numbers had reached record levels: up 4,578 to 128,748 by the end of January, the highest on record.

Federation members voted last month by a majority of 10 to one to reject the Government's pay offer, which is linked to a package of reforms.

Warning of growing anger, the federation's chairman, Fred Broughton, said: "It is very important that when you have a unique police service that it is listened to."

He said that without government flexibility on pay and conditions, members would inevitably call at their conference in May for their 83-year-old strike ban to be overturned. "There's a demand to discuss that from some parts of the country," Mr Broughton said.

Officers say they are "undervalued" and believe Mr Blunkett's proposals will lead to overtime pay reductions.