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 as 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 the Government.

Rob Grunner, Secretary of Humberside Police Federation, said: "We are here today to represent the members of Humberside to make sure their voice is heard in a very important national issue for our members."

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the Police Federation of England and Wales has passed a vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel and has withdrawn its support and engagement from the Police Remuneration Review Body, labelling the current police officer pay mechanism ‘not fit for purpose’.

Lee Sims, Chair of Humberside Police Federation, added: "The PRRB isn’t fair as it is clearly not independent, the Government has a body where they have to take their findings and their recommendations, whereas the PRRB they take or leave. This is fundamentally unfair.

"Police officers in Humberside have been out every minute of every day during the pandemic, and they will continue to be. They put themselves at risk every single day to keep the communities of Humberside safe and it’s appalling the Government has not recorded this with a pay rise. Warm words and “other things” won’t put food on the table or pay mortgages.

"We hope the Government will review their decision and realise they have made a massive error and amend this to give our members the pay rise they deserve."

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.