Police Federation - High Court challenge over pay.

The following is a press release from the Police Federation:

Police Federation given permission to launch High Court challenge on pay decision

04.02.08

This afternoon the Police Federation has been successful and been granted permission to launch a High Court challenge to a government decision not to honour in full the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. A judge said he had "no hesitation" in ruling there was an arguable case to apply for judicial review.

We have issued the following statement to the media:

Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

"This is a positive step for the 140,000 police officers across England and Wales in their fight for fair pay. The fact that our application for a judicial review has been successful adds weight to what we have been saying all along – that the Home Secretary betrayed police officers by failing to honour the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal."

The two-day hearing will take place before two judges on 15 and 16 April - I wish them luck.

This government believes it is all-powerful. I hope the police put them straight.