That was the message taken to the heart of power today as police officers from across the country came to Westminster to voice their fury at their treatment by the Government.

A huge billboard carrying the message “No Covid Vaccine. No Police Pay Rise. No Confidence in Priti Patel”

accompanied the officers at it reminded those working in The House of Commons, The Home Office and 10 Downing Street of how the Government has betrayed the country’s hard-working police officers.

Brave colleagues who risked their safety – and sadly that of their families – as they kept people in the country safe over the last 18 months of the Covid-19 pandemic were last week awarded a 0% pay rise by Government.

James Dimmack, Chair of Dorset Police Federation, said: “The Police Federation feel it is imperative that our message is heard loudly and clearly by the heart of Government. For too long we have been fobbed off with niceties and empty promises. It is time that the courage and dedication of our officers is both recognised and rewarded.

“We are obliged to carry this message on behalf of our members as things have to change.”

As a result of the vaccine and pay betrayals, the Police Federation of England and Wales has passed a vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel and has withdrawn its support and engagement from the Police Remuneration Review Body, labelling the current police officer pay mechanism ‘not fit for purpose’.

James added: “We need to establish a fair and truly independent process by which Police pay can be appropriately reviewed. We have stepped away from the PRRB as our voice is not being heard. In fact our voice is being ignored.

“We don’t take these steps lightly far from it. In truth stepping away from this roundly unfair process has been muted for some time. By doing this we hope to engage in meaningful discussion to establish new relationships which are just that a 2 way process. Not 1 party being forced to bend to the will of another. That being the case we hope to achieve a level playing field upon which Police officers can be appropriately recognised and recompensed for their dedicated service.”

The Police Federation of England and Wales has now called on the Government to dispense with policing platitudes and to agree to work with the Police Federation on an entirely new and fairer system of remuneration decision-making.

And to reverse the 0% pay award decision and give our police officers a meaningful pay increase.