while people say thier conscience wont allow them to work to rule (jan,bath) then they are the very people that the Government love as with attitudes like that, then life for the hard working policeman becomes difficult....over 21yrs services entitlements have been slowly been eroded away

nobby, leicester,

BAck in the 1970's the then Labour Government made the same mistake of not abiding by their own rules. Many of us worked to rule then, in small matters. The result was a Royal Commission on Policing, which the Tories renaged on, now followed by Labour. Governments never learn until too late.

Barry Purkis, Havant, England

Cut the pay of high ranking officers to fund pay rises for low paid ones. A PC is just as important - if not more- than an Inspector in tackling crime, yet he gets far less pay. And Ian Blair's salary is ludicrous.

Richard Brennan, Harrow, Middlesex

It's apparent that some of these commentators haven't been in the armed forces or, served in the emergency services! The government have us over a barrel - my conscience won't allow me to work to rule or vote for the chance to go on strike. I don't know that any of my colleagues would either.

Jan, Bath, UK

Abdul Majeed, Bradford - I'd happily see the Police go hungry to see this government overthrown!

On a more serious note, it's these micro-targets that are the real crime; detecting sanctionable offences - the key police "effectiveness" number is measured daily - hence all their petty harassment

Hany Mustapha, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Any overthrown world government will tell you that of all the people you aught to treat well are the Police. The Home Office doesn't seem to have picked up on this.

Abdul Majeed, Bradford, West Yorkshire, UK

perfectly fair- the Home Office will not abide by an arbitration award and the police are right to feel badly let down by this useless government. if you pay the bare minimum you get the bare minimum

peter c, devizes, wessex

It might be a good idea to give the police a break every year with an exchange system with the army. They would get to see the world ang get a nice tan in Afghanistan and enjoy the benefit of being on duty 24 hours a day 7 days a week with no overtime pay. Hopefully you may return intact.

m wilson, bidache, france

The Police wouldn't be daft enough to work to rule as this would lead to an exposure of their overtime scams. It would also almost certainly give a huge boost to P.C.S.O.s.

adrian, london,

I am in support of the Police! This Govt went to arbitration on an agreed policy but when it came to the crunch they RENEGED on the result. The policy was determined many years ago to avoid strike action; in return independent assessment was agreed. Scabs is I believe an old Lab term.

M. Cawdery, craigavon, Co. UK, EU (now)

Beat officers attend community groups on their day off, Detectives stay on to see out a crime enquiry, Response Officers deal with that extra urgent call after their duty should have finished...Let's just see how it goes when all the extra hours put in for nothing are not worked.

Matt, Spalding, uk

Knife and gun crime out of control, yobs ruling the streets, drugs freely available These brave officers deserve every penny they get. The Home Secretary treated them very badly last year, like all MP's she gets a large wage and loads of perks ( John Lewis List )

Martin, Reading, Berkshire

Its all well and good these buffoons sending messages slating the Police with idiotic commments, I would like to see them deal with some of the things a Police Officer has to face in the normal course of duty. The public gets the Police service it deserves thankfully the majority support the Police

phil, Liverpool, england

if they're working to rule, then they'll have to work to rule... which means they will be run off their little feet actually responding to 999 calls etc. Perhaps they means they're only working to the rules they want to work to when it comes to their working hours...

paulc, gloucester,

this dispute is govt. induced by failing to honour along standing pay agreement. Such action which was penny pinching at it's worse and was critised by cross party members.
remember that our unarmed police are the envy of the world and should be paid accordingly- if not then stick to agreements!

mike cassidy, gloucester, england

Ian - you have a well paid job I assume? There are lots of things police could moan about, but what is affecting most people in this country, beleive it or not is money! Not to mention the government braking their promise. They are not paid enough.
What would you strike about Ian??

Anna, Lancs,

Work to rule ? I thought they were doing that already.

Terry Dell, Weybridge, UK

So the government want to give 2.325% increase for next year.
By their own figures isn't that a 2% pay cut in relation to official inflation figures (or 10% paycut in relation to real inflation figures)

rob, ashbourne, uk

The government calls it generous......not as generous as their own salaries and allowances though! Oink!

Keith, Grantham,

If the Police go on strike, how would we know?

Martin, Cambridge, England

Yet again the government have let down the Police with their lies and rhetoric, its all well and good offering 3 yr deals when the financial climate is stable but as it is who knows what inflation etc will be like next month let alone in 3 years, the Police would be foolish to accept such a deal now

Richie , cheshire, England

The police force (or as we are now expected to call it 'service') have been stabbed in the back by our pathetic government.The home secretary should resign over this matter.
We either want properly paid officers or go back to when they had to claim social security to survive (1970's)

Jonathan Cairns, Sandwich, UK

With all the problems in this country visa vie law and order, justice system, etc and the bobbies want to strike just for more pay - beggars belief actually !!!!

If I were a bobbie I would find more important issues to strike about besides pay !!!

ian payne, walsall,

If the police stopping having innocent people sent to prison I would be minded to listen to their grumbles. We know about the cases of Barry George and Colin Stagg - how many other innocent people have been wrongly convicted and sent to prison?

It is more quality control that is needed.

Des, Edinburgh,

What's the point in stating the annual police wage bill. Do we want the job doing properly or not? How much it costs should not be an issue. The figures above just highlight the fact that the police on the front line aren't getting enough and Ian Blair is getting way too much. Sir or not.

Paul, Perth, Australia