David
Blunkett faces a setback to his plans to reform the police force after
rank-and-file officers rejected a Home Office pay deal.
The
deal is central to reform plans, and the rejection will hamper changes,
commentators claim.
Police
sources said the vote, details of which are still to be officially announced, clearly
rejected the pay deal.
The
package included cuts in overtime rates and some allowances. In return for the
cuts officers were offered an extra £400 a year and a one of payment of between
£500 and £5,000 for officers with special skills.
Scotland’s
15,000 police officers also overwhelmingly rejected the pay reforms. In all,
94.1% of Scottish officers, ranging in rank from constable to chief constable,
voted against the package proposed by the Home Office.
