Can David Cameron expect to win the Police vote?

Without doubt David Cameron is the party leader most likely to win the Police vote. It's not anything David has done to win their support, it's Brown and Clegg's actions to alienate them. First of all we had Jacqui Smith going back on Police pay arbitration last year. The Police Federation were furious, the then chairman Jan Berry said:

"Police officers across the United Kingdom have delivered a clear message to the Prime Minister. We no longer have any trust or faith in the abilities of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith dealing with our pay and conditions and she must go. "This is not just about money; it is about treating police officers fairly and honouring the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. By not honouring the deal the Home Secretary has betrayed the trust of all UK police officers. "It's clear what needs to be done. Honour the deal in full or continue to feel the might and anger of police officers, the public and a growing number of politicians."

And now the LibDems have managed to alienate the entire police force. In response to Liberal Democrats comment on police with criminal convictions, Paul McKeever, Police Federation of England and Wales says;

“It is baffling that a political party claiming they want to restore public confidence could be so keen to conduct this type of headline-grabbing exposé. Not only do these figures serve to undermine confidence in policing by failing to appreciate the nature of these convictions but effectively ignore the thousands of successes achieved by the police each day.

“Are the Liberal Democrats effectively suggesting that a person caught and already punished for a minor offence should then be rejected from the police, even if they possess excellent credentials? Surely it should be that individual cases are dealt with at the discretion of Chief Officers, not by this type of ill conceived policy chomping?

“A party in the shadows would be more effectively employed creating dialogue with interested parties rather than undermining loyal public servants. Confidence is built by two way communication, not petty attempts to discredit.”

There are 140,230 police officers in England and Wales, I think the Conservatives can expect to pick up quite a few of their votes.

Police - Colleague’s murderer wins appeal and the government dump on you.

It's not been a great day for the police. If I were a Police Officer, tonight I would be asking myself "Is it worth taking crap all day and risking my life, only to be shat on by the government?"

From the Police Federation:

Responding to news that the killer of PC Ian Broadhurst has won an appeal against a life meaning life prison sentence on the grounds of human rights, Julie Nesbit, Chairman of the Constables' Central Committee of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

"This is an absolute disgrace and insult to the family, friends and colleagues of PC Ian Broadhurst who was brutally murdered by David Bieber on Boxing Day in 2003.

"Bieber is a monster. Did he stop to consider Ian's human rights, or the rights of his family, when he shot him dead at point blank range?

"Society expects police officers to put themselves between trouble and the public. The decision today lets down all police officers and is nothing more than a victory and green light for those vicious and senseless thugs who think nothing of taking the life of a police officer."

To add insult to injury, it looks like the police are going to get shafted on their pay deal for a second year:

Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board, says:

"We are bitterly disappointed that a failure to agree has been registered at the Police Negotiating Board today.

"Despite assurances that there would be fair negotiation this year, the Official Side of the PNB yet again appear to have their hands tied behind their backs by a government intent on driving down police pay, failing to recognise the unique status of police officers and the restrictions placed on their working and private lives.

"The Official Side's one year offer of 2.325% is insulting and adds to the sense of injustice experienced by police officers last year.

"We will take our very fair and reasonable claim of 3.5% to conciliation or the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal and fight to ensure that police officers receive the very best deal possible."

Police and Prison Officers voice concerns over public safety.

The Prison Population has reached an all time high of 83,000 and concern is again being levelled at the Government for the lack of investment in the prison system over the last ten years.

Colin Moses, National Chairman of the POA said;

“There has been a significant lack of investment in our prisons for many years and the problems are stacking up. We currently have serious staff shortfalls throughout the service and as new places become available they are immediately filled, this is placing the staff and prisoners alike under tremendous pressure. I often ask myself, how many custodial warrants are outstanding because as a prison place is available a prisoner appears. So are the public really safe or are the police only executing warrants dependant on prison and police cell spaces? We are aware that the Ministry of Justice have instructed all Governors to send prisoners to open prisons. It is believed that all open prisons will be operating at around 95% capacity. To the POA that can only mean one thing; open prisons will be dangerous places to work in and the public in surrounding areas will be at risk."

Brian Caton, General Secretary of the POA said:

“The problems of overcrowding are not new; and the problems we face today are as a direct result of the lack of real investment for new prisons over the last 10 years. If things continue as they are we will see more and more unsuitable and dangerous prisoners released early and public safety will be at risk."

Responding to the Prison Officer Association’s concerns that some criminals may be going free because of insufficient prison places to house them, Paul McKeever, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales said:

"The Police Federation has long warned that with a rising criminal population and more arrests being made by police, more prisons are needed. The simple fact is that if prison overcrowding is resulting in sentences being cut even further than they already are, then the Criminal Justice System is failing victims of crime and further demoralising frontline officers who see those they have brought to justice out again before the paperwork is even completed.

"The safety of the public is paramount and it is essential that those convicted of crime serve their full sentences. Rest assured, police officers will continue to arrest and charge those they consider a danger to society. We will not, as has been suggested, limit the execution of warrants and arrests to suit a political agenda that wishes to do anything to ease the burden on overcrowded prisons."

Not happy bunnies are they? Should we be seriously concerned about public safety? Given the opinion of what I consider to be "men in the know" I am most definitely concerned.

Jan Berry slaps down Jacqui Smith - Police Federation Conference.

Ever since I started blogging I have followed the speeches and press releases from the Police Federation. The one thing that always makes them interesting is the honest and straightforward opinion of their Chairman for the last six years: Jan Berry. Jan steps down as Chairman on completion of the police conference being held in Bournemouth this week. I will miss reading Jan's press releases and I can only hope that whoever steps into well worn shoes does the job to Jan's high standards. Jan did not disappoint when she made her key note speech at the conference today - She stuck the boot into Jacqui Smith good and hard:

At my first conference, I introduced the opportunity to ask questions of the Home Secretary. Although some Home Secretaries have subsequently regretted it – the session has been an important and healthy exchange of views. Home Secretary - I admire your courage. You didn’t have to come here today and I know conference will treat your office with the respect it warrants. I am sure when your Private Secretary reminded you of today’s event you felt like reaching for the nearest stab proof vest - and perhaps slipping into old habits and lighting up to calm your nerves…

… But as you have reassured us, you have moved on from these past indiscretions…
Your recent crimes have been more for the serious fraud office than the drug squad!

You will say that you could not take any risks with inflation by conceding on police pay. But let me ask you this. How was it that the government found 2.7 billion pounds to dig itself out of a tax hole in advance of a by-election but couldn’t find 30 million pounds to honour our pay deal?

And listen to this.

When teachers went on strike, the Prime Minister and the Education Secretary’s response was to say that it would be ‘irresponsible’ to over-ride the settlement recommended by their independent pay review panel. So it suited Mr Balls to defend the teachers’ panel deal but it didn’t suit you to do the same for us.

Home Secretary, what is it that Mr Balls has but you do not…..

Well done Jan. You will be sorely missed.

You can read Jan's full speech by clicking HERE. - Well worth a read.

Police majority vote to lobby for full industrial rights.

Press release from the Police Federation:

20 May 2008

This afternoon in the Opening Speech to conference (available on the website) Jan Berry announced the results of the Police Federation/Ipsos MORI poll of the membership on binding arbitration and full industrial rights.

They are:

A total of 60,572 responses were received.

Q1. Do you think decisions made by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal should or should not be binding on the Government?

Yes, should be binding = 93%
No, should not be binding = 3%
No opinion/don't know/not stated = 4%

Q2. In the current absence of binding arbitration on the Government, do you wish the Police Federation of England and Wales to start to lobby for a change in legislation to allow police officers full industrial rights?

Yes = 86%
No = 11%
No opinion/don't know/not stated = 3%

Chairman of the Police Federation, Jan Berry says:

" I do not see this as a vote for strike action; it's a vote for binding independent arbitration.

" This is a wake up call for the government, and they must listen to what the police officers of England and Wales are telling them."

Jacqui Smith will address the Police Federation Conference tomorrow - I bet she is looking forward to that!

Keith Vaz, Labour chairman of the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee, said: "I urge the home secretary to immediately enter into a dialogue with the leaders of the federation to ensure that the necessity for them to take such action is considerably diminished, if not eliminated."

Will they listen and learn?

50% of "On the spot" fines are not being paid.

The Daily Mail are reporting that a Freedom of information request uncovered the fact that 50 per cent of "On the spot" fines (Penalty Notices for Disorder) are going unpaid. Some areas are reporting a payment rate of only 32 per cent. With an estimated 95,000 fines going unpaid the courts are struggling to recover the outstanding £7.7million. Jan Berry, chairman of the Police Federation, said:

“The government must restrict the use of Penalty Notices for Disorder to the most minor of offences. The reality is they don’t deter crime and a lot are never paid. “It’s high time we were allowed to get back to some common sense policing, using our discretion, and putting these persistent offenders before the courts. Otherwise they are just laughing in the face of the law and feel confident to go on to bigger and more serious criminal activity.”

Of course the main flaw in the "brilliant idea" is that yobs being yobs, they tend to give false identities when they are being fined. Who'd have thunk it? You may have noticed that Jan Berry said: "putting these persistent offenders before the courts" And there's a good reason for that - you do not get a criminal record no matter how many "on the spot" fines you receive.

Alan Gordon, vice-chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

"Let’s look at the reality of fixed penalty notices. Currently a third (now 50%) go unpaid and those who receive them get no criminal conviction. The Sentencing Advisory Panel suggestion that shoplifters (for example) could avoid jail no matter how many times they commit the offence is a disgrace. It sends out the wrong message at a time when the police and the public alike are sick to death of a criminal justice system which is far too lenient on those who break the law. The term shoplifting is misleading. It is stealing, and stealing is a crime and should be dealt with as such. The ultimate deterrent to any criminal is a prison sentence. We need more prisons, not a short term fix which will only encourage crime, not tackle it.”

This is just another Labour quick fix aimed at gathering money that doesn't work.

Five years for gun crime - What does mandatory mean?

Chief Constable Hogan-Howe has criticised judges for failing to impose mandatory five year sentences in gun crime cases. When I was in the armed forces, mandatory meant, well err, mandatory. It didn't mean "If you feel like it".

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

"Despite the year on year increase in gun crime and the legislation introduced in 2003 allowing judges to give mandatory five year sentences, lenient decisions by the courts are failing to protect society from the menace of firearms.

Chief Constable Hogan-Howe is right to highlight this issue because not only are judges playing with the safety of the public, but some of the ludicrous sentences are hugely demoralising for front line officers doing their very best to protect the communities they serve.

Understandably there are a few exceptions when circumstances dictate it is not suitable to hand out the mandatory five year sentences; but they should be the exception not the rule as they appear to have become with less than 50% of cases receiving the 5 years or more.

Whatever the reason might be; a lack of prison places should not be a determining factor when it comes to public safety and justice."

You know, I really like Jan Berry. I've been reading her press releases for about a year now and I can't find fault in anything she has said.

Police Federation - Poll for full industrial action rights.

The Police Federation of England and Wales are not going to let Jacqui Smith get away with welching on their pay arbitration. She may think it's over, but the Federation have other ideas. 140,000 Police Officers are to be polled on whether they wish the Federation to begin to lobby for full industrial rights for them.

The following is taken from a Federation press release :

Two questions will appear on the poll, which will be undertaken by independent research company Ipsos MORI:

1.Do you think the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal should be binding on the government?

2.In the absence of binding arbitration on the government, do you wish the Police Federation of England and Wales to start to lobby for a change in legislation to allow police officers full industrial rights?

The survey will be conducted both online and via paper questionnaires. Police Federation members will be able to access the online survey via www.polfed.org and Local Federation Branch Boards will also have paper questionnaires that can be distributed. Final details regarding distribution is still being finalised with branch boards. The survey will go live from 24th March. The online poll with close on 2nd May, and the paper poll will close on 25th April. The results will be available at the Police Federation annual conference in Bournemouth in May.

I wish them good luck. Why should Police officers be restricted to wage increases in line with the CPI (2.1%), when MPs increase their expenses in line with the RPI (4.3%)?

Police Federation respond to Labour gimmick number 25.

No 25 on the list of Labour gimmicks:

Responding to the launch today of the Government’s plan to tackle violent action, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

“Police officers remain dedicated to tackling violent crime and violent offenders, but I fear that much of today’s announcement is nothing more than sticking plaster solutions that do nothing to actually address the root of the problem, and the growing lawlessness and loutish behaviour we are experiencing on the streets.

“We welcome the presumption to prosecute those who are found carrying a knife, and agree there needs to be tougher sentences to deter anyone from considering such action. This is certainly better than the option being considered by the government just a year ago which would have seen those carrying knives merely getting a fixed penalty notice and not the possibility of a custodial sentence. We also congratulate Sarah Payne for her persistence to ensure changes to the law to protect families from those who prey on young children. This seems a measured and sensible way forward to ensure public safety without the fear of vigilantism.

“But actions speak louder than words. If the government really want to make a difference and free police officers to tackle the most serious offences and offenders then the Home Secretary should change Public Service Agreement 24, thereby removing the Offenders Brought To Justice (OBTJ) targets, or sanction detections as they are better known. It is these targets that result in the arrests police officers are compelled to make merely to satisfy national diktats, not what the public actually want.

“In the same vain, the government should also restrict the use of Penalty Notices for Disorder to the most minor offences. We are encouraged to issue them for a range of crimes including theft, criminal damage and public order offences, and the reality is they don’t deter crime and half of them are never paid. It’s high time we were allowed to get back to some common sense policing, using our discretion, and putting these persistent offenders before the courts. Otherwise they are just laughing in the face of the law and feel confident to go on to bigger and more serious criminal activity.”

The Police Federation respond to the Flanagan Report.

The following is a press release from the Chairman of the Police Federation, Jan Berry, in response to the publishing of the Flanagan Report:

"There is much in the report to be welcomed, as collectively many of the recommendations have the potential to release significant numbers of police officers back onto the street, and return some healthy common sense into policing.

"The recommendations would also help restore police officers' discretion; something this government has been eroding through the imposition of nationally set targets.

"Whilst we must be accountable for our actions, recommendations to overhaul crime recording, stop and account, RIPA and rationalise stop and search bureaucracy is to be applauded.

"Cutting central targets will also allow police officers to deliver the type of policing that local communities want, and will eliminate the ridiculous arrests that officers are often compelled to make to satisfy Home Office diktats.

"Rationalising the governance process will also ensure that we don't end up with a top heavy police service, with more people deciding what we should be doing, than numbers available to actually deliver.

"However, as is often the case with reports of this magnitude, the devil is in the detail. There is an assumption that the workforce modernisation programme, advocating a mix of police and support staff in operational roles, provides greater efficiencies, flexibility and resilience. It is premature to reach such a conclusion as the demonstration sites are not due to commence until spring and there has been no evaluation. This government has a tendency of declaring pilots a success as soon as they launch them. This report assumes they are a success before they have even started.

"I don't dispute that we have become a 'risk averse' service. Perhaps if officers received better ongoing training and there was less of a blame culture and or a witch hunt if they make genuine mistakes or errors, then the 'risk aversion' trend may just turn."

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.

Jan Berry comments on the fall in police numbers.

In my earlier post about yesterday's PMQs, I asked readers to listen to Gordon Brown and then to asks themselves if they believed the answers he gave. For instance he said that we have more police officers than ever before. With that in mind please read the following:

Reacting to publication of the police service strength report published today, Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says:

“We are bitterly disappointed that, despite assurances of record numbers, we saw a fall of 647 police officers in England and Wales during the six months to September 2007.This at a time when ring fenced funding for CSO’s was extended for another year, and we saw an 80% increase in CSOs between October 2006 and September 2007. We had predicted this, but take no pleasure being proved right.

“However the real kick in the stomach comes from our chief officers, who instead of demanding no decline in police officer numbers, trumpet an increase in police personnel. They may be prepared to sell police officers down the river, but we will fight to ensure that the politically independent multi-skilled police constable remains at the heart of policing.”

Do you believe Gordon Brown?

Jan Berry's police rally speech: Gordon Brown's price.

I always like to visit the Police Federation website every so often to view their press releases. Today I came across Jan Berry's (the chairman of the Police Federation) speech at the police march and rally last week. Overall the speech was up to Jan's usual high standard of emotive communication. There was however, one section that I found moving and particularly poignant and I would like to share it with you:

What after all did you (Gordon Brown) consider to be the fair political price for your decision.... A Home Secretary hung out to dry, defending an untenable position? A Cabinet embarrassed by the inconsistency of public sector pay and how the friends of the PM seem to get the best deals? These are significant, but they, like you Prime Minister are political, and no doubt you will overcome them.

So let me tell you what you should consider to be the real ‘price’ – You have broken your word to the police service. You have irrevocably undermined the established structure and process of police pay negotiation.

Today – police force badges up and down the land shine a little less brightly

The pride and honour of uniform is worn just that little bit heavier

Today has been a day of action - thank you all again for your dedication and patience – you have demonstrated the finest characteristics of the British police officer:
-
Order
-
Pride
-
Honour
-
Fairness

Let us all hope our Government can now do the same.

Do you think Gordon Brown will listen or care? I don't, and that's why I believe he will be forced to step down this year. You can read the full speech by clicking HERE.

Today: Police march and rally in London for fair pay.

The Police Federation are taking part in a march and a rally today. An estimated 15,000 officers are thought to be taking part in a one hour march from Park Lane to the Home office where petitions will be handed in by one representative from every force in England and Wales. I wish them good luck and hope that the media give this rally the publicity it deserves. If Jacqui Smith was hoping this was going die down, then I think she is very mistaken.

The news that police support staff and PCSOs have accepted a 2.5% pay deal will no doubt further infuriate front line police officers. The reason police staff and PCSOs got a better pay deal than police officers? - Their pay was negotiated by the union Unison. It seems clear that if you have the ability to strike, you stand a better chance of fair pay. No wonder the police federation are balloting members on the ability to take industrial action:

From the Police federeation website:

Why is the Police Federation voting on whether officers want the right to strike? It is illegal for police officers to take any form of industrial action. For nearly a century that is what has set officers apart from all other workers in the public sector. Many officers have said if the government wish to treat us like all other workers, then perhaps we should have the same employment rights. It was therefore decided that the Police Federation will hold a ballot of the 140,000 members to ask the question –'In the absence of binding arbitration, do you want the Police Federation to lobby for full industrial rights for police officers?’. It is intended that the ballot will take place at the end of February.

I've said many times before that this government have been in power far too long and they now believe that they can do anything they please. I hope the police federation are just the first group to show Gordon Brown and his government that they cannot ride rough shod over the people.

Police get shafted - If you can strike, you can get fair pay.

The news that police support staff and PCSOs have accepted a 2.5% pay deal today will no doubt further infuriate front line police officers. The reason police staff and PCSOs got a better pay deal than police officers? - Their pay was negotiated by the union Unison. It seems clear that if you have the ability to strike, you stand a better chance of fair pay. No wonder the police federation are balloting members on the ability to take industrial action:

From the Police Federation Website:

Why is the Police Federation voting on whether officers want the right to strike? It is illegal for police officers to take any form of industrial action. For nearly a century that is what has set officers apart from all other workers in the public sector. Many officers have said if the government wish to treat us like all other workers, then perhaps we should have the same employment rights. It was therefore decided that the Police Federation will hold a ballot of the 140,000 members to ask the question –'In the absence of binding arbitration, do you want the Police Federation to lobby for full industrial rights for police officers?’. It is intended that the ballot will take place at the end of February.

The Police Federation are also holding a rally on the 23rd of January 2008. An estimated 15,000 officers are thought to be taking part in a one hour march from Park Lane to the Home office where petitions will be handed in by one representative from every force in England and Wales. I wish them good luck and hope that the media give this rally the publicity it deserves. If Jacqui Smith was hoping this was going die down, then I think she is very mistaken.

I've said many times before that this government have been in power far too long and they now believe that they can do anything they please. I hope the police federation are just the first group to show Gordon Brown and his government that they cannot ride rough shod over the people.

Teachers get above inflation (CPI) three year pay deal.

Teachers are to receive an above inflation three year pay deal. 2.45% in the first year and 2.3% for the following two years. How can this have happened? Gordon Brown has been saying that he would not risk the economy by awarding this level of pay rise in the public sector. Many teachers are not at all happy with the pay deal, but I'm damned sure the police federation are spitting tacks over the news seeing as their members received 1.9%, despite arbitration setting the level at 2.5%.

Of course the fact that the government are using the CPI (2.1%) as a measure of inflation means that everyone receiving anything bellow 4.3% (RPI) is in reality worse off this year than last year. RPI takes into account rent and mortgages, the CPI does not. I assume that all public sector workers live in some kind of dwelling which they have to pay for. The government however, believe the RPI is suitable for working out how much MP's allowances should be increased by.

One rule for them, and one rule for us little people.

A second Chief Constable tells Jacqui Smith to Shove her Christmas message.

Cambridgeshire's Chief Constable, Julie Spence, today joined the chief of Essex Police, Roger Baker, by refusing to pass on Jacqui Smith's Christmas message to her officers.

A spokesman said:

“We received an eight-paragraph letter sent to all forces thanking them for their work in 2007, praising them for their bravery and dedication and wishing them a happy Christmas. “The letter arrived two days after news of the pay dispute emerged. “Normally, the letter would be published on our force website but the chief constable felt it would be inappropriate to do that this year.”

Roger Baker said:

“While I have been happy to publish this in previous years, I feel that this year her message is not consistent with the decision she has taken over police officers’ pay.”

I like it:

Merry Christmas and thanks for all your hard work. In way of gratitude Gordon and I have decided not to honour that silly little pay arbitration thingy. I'm sure you won't mind.

Happy New Year.

Hugs

Jacqui XXX.

Chief Constables attack dishonourable Jacqui Smith.

Some of the UK's top police chiefs have spoken out against the government’s decision not to honour the police pay arbitration. The Police Federation have called for the Home Secretary to resign, and they are to ballot their members on the right to strike. It's good to see 160 MPs are backing the police in their call for fair pay by calling on the government to reconsider its shameful decision.

The Chief Constables from Kent, North Wales, Devon & Cornwall and Cumbria have used words like: Cheated, mean, unnecessary, shabby, dishonourable and untrustworthy to describe the government’s behaviour. In fact the head copper in Cumbria, Craig Mackey refused to pass on Jacqui Smiths Christmas message to his officers. Personally I can't believe the cheeky cow has the neck to wish the police a merry Christmas. Talk about rubbing salt into the wound.

This is a showdown that will end in tears. Jacqui Smith will probably carry the can, but I have no doubt that she is only following Gordon Brown's orders. I've heard that to honour the pay arbitration the government would have to find £30m. This is just a drop in the ocean when you consider that the Department for Work and Pensions spent £11m on 1st class train tickets this year. And according to Iain Dale: Over the next seven years Britain will send £71 billion to Brussels - equivalent to £10.2 billion a year. And with us being the lowest recipient of EU spending, we will only see about half of that money come back to the UK.

Though the police deserve their pay rise, this is not about money, it is about the government honouring arbitration, it's about trust and it's about honesty. Unfortunately those attributes seem to be in very short supply inside No 10 Downing Street.

Sent from my BlackBerry® wireless device

Three months of misery and cock-ups for Gordon Brown. Continued.

Click on the dates to read the story.

25/09/07
D'oh! - Greatest threat since WW2 - The sun publish an excellent graphic depicting Gordon Brown giving the British people the two fingered salute over the EU Treaty.

28/09/07
D'oh! - The number of prisoners in England and Wales has reached a record high.
Official figures suggest there were 81,135 people locked up in jails and in police stations.

06/10/07
D'oh! - According to Nick Robinson the BBC's political editor, Gordon Brown is to announce very shortly that he WILL NOT be calling an Autumn Election.

07/10/07
D'oh! - Gordon Brown's week is just not getting any better. It turns out that German Chancellor Angela Merkel has said that Robert Mugabe is entitled to attend a Europe-Africa summit.

09/10/07
D'oh! - European Scrutiny Committee report that they are not confident that Gordon Brown's EU Treaty red lines cannot be eroded over time.

09/10/07
D'oh! - Alistair Darling's Pre Budget Report receives massive criticism for stealing Tory policies.

22/10/07
D'oh! - Labour (who were not that serious about an autumn election) are allegedly facing a bill of £1 million for their election that "never was" campaign.

29/10/07
D'oh! - Independent ComRes poll shows the Conservatives 8 points clear of Labour.

04/11/07
D'oh! - Ruth Kelly apologises for breaking rules on using public money for party political material. She spent some of her £10,000-a-year communications allowance on a newsletter which repeatedly referred to "Labour".

07/11/07
D'oh! - Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said "The answer is I don't know" when she was asked on BBC Radio 4 just how long the proposed detention limit should be.

13/11/07
D'oh! - Jacqui Smith makes a statement in which she tries to explain (spin) why it was not announced back in July that 5,000 illegal immigrants have been wrongly cleared to work in security.

20/11/07
D'oh! - 25m sets of personal details get lost in the post. Bank account numbers, sort codes, names, addresses, dates of birth and National Insurance numbers.

23/11/07
D'oh! - Lords debate that saw five ex-chiefs of staff attack Gordon Brown for inadequate MoD funding levels and the appointment of "two hats" Des Browne.

26/11/07
D'oh! - Labour party's General Secretary Peter Watt resigns over dodgy donations.

26/11/07
D'oh! - ComRes poll commissioned by the Independent shows the Tories 13 points ahead of Labour.

28/11/07
D'oh! - Vince Cable brings the house down by pointing out the Brown had transformed from Stalin to Mr bean over the last few weeks.

29/11/07
D'oh! - The electoral commission call in the police to investigate the dodgy donations received by the Labour party.

30/11/07
D'oh! - Harriet Harman admits that she took out an unreported £40,000 extension to her and her husband's mortgage with the Halifax to fund the campaign.

3/12/07
D'oh! - Cabinet minister Peter Hain has said more donations to his Labour deputy leadership campaign "were not registered as they should have been". That's on top of the £5,000 donation that he forgot last week.

6/12/07
D'oh! - A leaked letter from Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, to the Chancellor Alistair Darling has got the police gnawing on their truncheons. It seems Jacqui is not keen to bide by the judgement of the Arbitration for the latest police pay award.

6/12/07
D'oh! - Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, says: If the government want a fight, they have got a fight. We are actively pursuing a legal challenge and have requested an urgent meeting with the Home Secretary who must be held to account for her scandalous decision."

7/12/07
D'oh! - Ben Brogan writes: Senior figures have been holding secret talks to decide a response to the drastic turnaround in Mr Brown's fortunes after a disastrous two months.

11/12/07
D'oh! - Frank Field requested a report from the Statistics Commission after the DWP gave him a dodgy estimation on the number of foreign workers in the UK. The report states that 80% of jobs created since 1997 have gone to foreign workers.

12/12/07
D'oh! - At PMQs Vince Cable said: "Given his (Gordon's) own position, the prime minister might not be wise to speculate on leadership elections".

13/12/07
D'oh! - Gordon Brown turns up late to sign the EU Treaty - to much criticism.

13/12/07
D'oh! - Jacqui Smith announces in a Commons statement that a least 6,653 (possibly 11,100) illegal immigrants are working security jobs in the UK.

13/12/07
D'oh! - At an emergency meeting about the police pay crisis, the staff associations representing the UK's 170,000 police officers have called for Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, to resign.

14/12/07
D'oh! - Scientists at the IAH blame the government for failing to stop the foot and mouth outbreak from spreading. The scientist say that Defra were wrong to give the all clear, and this led to the second outbreak a month later.

And the hits just keep on coming!

UK police officers call on Home Secretary to resign

The following is a press release from the Police Federation:

UK police officers call on Home Secretary to resign

12.12.07

At an emergency meeting held today (12th December) about the police pay crisis, the staff associations representing the UK's 170,000 police officers have called for Jacqui Smith, the Home Secretary, to resign. This followed a vote of no confidence at the meeting in Jacqui Smith's ability to deal fairly with police pay and conditions. The staff associations made clear that police officers had lost trust and faith in her. Jan Berry, Chairman of the Police Federation, and Chairman of the Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board, says:

"Police officers across the United Kingdom have delivered a clear message to the Prime Minister. We no longer have any trust or faith in the abilities of Home Secretary Jacqui Smith dealing with our pay and conditions and she must go. "This is not just about money; it is about treating police officers fairly and honouring the decision of the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal. By not honouring the deal the Home Secretary has betrayed the trust of all UK police officers. "It's clear what needs to be done. Honour the deal in full or continue to feel the might and anger of police officers, the public and a growing number of politicians."