If the police wish to garner public support for industrial action they should refuse to arrest people for political 'crimes' such as protesting against the Iraq war. They have been turned into New Labour's Stasi which is why at present the public does not have a great deal of empathy for them.

Paul, Coventry,

Anatole Kaletsky's predictions of a summer of discontent are starting to come true. As he said when the government caved in on the 10p tax rebate, this will be the pre-cursor for every demographic to start in the queue - at exactly the wrong time for the economy

Vaseem, London, UK

If the police have anything about them they will give Jacqui Smith the respect she deserves and walk out of the conference as she walks in - she and her government have done so much damage to this country - it will take years and years to put right.
Ray

Rachel Kelly, Slough,

The Police are already bleeding this Country dry with pensions to be jealous of. Look at the Chief Constable of Wales who "resigned" and has pension of crica £86,000 per annun for life (maybe 30 plus years) . How on earth can we afford that as a Country ?.

Steve, London, UK

This dispute is taking up too much time and energy. The federation are posturing with an argument they simply cannot win with the current governement. The silence of the opposition parties should be taken as it is meant, poloticians believe the police are not worth it.
It's only 140,000 votes!

Shaun, Newcastle, Tyneside

Police now, doctors next. Oh how we love the Labour government.

Andy C, Bristol, Britain

Would anyone notice?

Niallster, London,

We will have to deputise ex-miners to patrol picketing plodds, run amok through their communities and man road blocks to turn back flying pickets on the grounds that picketing plods are likely to cause a breach of the peace.

Nigel Wroe, Doncaster, Yorkshire

Can we assume then, that if anyone else without the right to strike chooses to do so regardless, then the fraternal policeforce will refuse to arrest them? I seem to recall the plods being less than sympathetic to 'the enemy within'.

Eric Skelton, Cardiff, Wales

Firemen have never had a total strike. They left not one individual to burn to death. This despite the fact that it was unclear if insurance covered them when not officialy at work.

Eric Skelton, Cardiff, Wales

Every twentyfive to thirty years the Government of the day, of whichever party, forgets that all that keeps them in power is 'the Thin Blue Line'. They allow Police salaries to fall below an acceptable level, and renage on agreements. Rather than a strike we need a Royal Commission on Police Pay.

Barry Purkis, Havant, England

Perhaps a Tory pledge to honour future pay awards when they are in power would be useful.

Tom, London,

Let them take industrial action, including going on strike. Who would notice the difference?

Adrian, London,

The Police would never actually strike, but the fact they are prepared to is recognition of the strength of feeling about how they are treated.
The Government should be ashamed of how they have handled this affair. They, above us all, should show respect for these people who "serve and protect".

Liam Bentley, Cambridge, UK

firemen have had total strikes twice recently,without losing public trust and support. Why not policemen?

michael james rodway, christchurch, uk

Only a government without morality would go back on a pre-agreed pay raise. That said, if the police went on strike in this area, it would be very difficult to ascertain any difference in the service currently provided.

julian, Wilmslow,

4 R M: The consequences of our police not being able to strike gives them only one other alternative which is to leave the profession. A ltd strike may cover certain areas such as crowd control at football stadiums etc. Better to let them strike than to lose them altogether.

Matthew S, London,

Not giving the police their full, agreed-upon pay raise was a travesty, however, giving them the right to strike would be an absolute, unmitigated disaster. Imagine our streets were the police to stage a walkout. One gives up the right to strike when entering certain professions.

R M, London, UK