THE chief of West Yorkshire's Police Federation has condemned the Government for its "shameful" treatment of police during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Brian Booth's scathing comments come off the back of a pay freeze being announced for police officers by Home Secretary Priti Patel last month, despite officers being on the frontline throughout the pandemic.

Federation chair Mr Booth has also called for police to get "full industrial rights" - which could allow police officers to go on strike in protest of Government decisions affecting them such as pay freezes and the "appalling treatment towards colleagues by Government in 2021".

Mr Booth said: “What an absolute insult and waft of utter disdain delivered to my colleagues by the Government this past week.

“Police officers have given everything this past 18 months. The Government have given us nothing. No priority for the Covid-19 vaccine – despite the risks we have faced – and now no pay rise.

“My hard-working colleagues in West Yorkshire witnessed many other workers who have industrial rights – such as NHS and firefighter colleagues - given pay awards. Police officers, who have no industrial rights, were given nothing.

“What makes this harder to understand for my members is that they have been front and centre in the fight against Covid, like those who have received a pay award.

“On top of this, as soon as the Federation shout foul play, that are lambasted by the political spin media.

"Staged pictures of the Home Secretary and the Prime Minister laughing and joking with officers.

"It’s utterly shameful behaviour from a Government that believes it is the party of law and order.

“Police officers have had then years of below inflation pay awards – most of them being zero or one per cent.

"There is no faith in the police pay mechanism, because this is decided on Government policy.”

As a result of not being prioritised for the Covid-19 vaccine and "pay betrayals", the Police Federation of England and Wales has passed a vote of no confidence in Home Secretary Priti Patel.

It has also withdrawn its support and engagement from the Police Remuneration Review Body, labelling the current police officer pay mechanism ‘not fit for purpose’.

The Police Federation of England and Wales has now called on the Government to dispense with policing platitudes and to agree to work with the Police Federation on an entirely new and fairer system of remuneration decision-making, including reversing the pay freeze and giving officers a meaningful pay increase.

Mr Booth concluded: “My colleagues deserve better… and my personal opinion is that we now canvass our membership for full industrial rights.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said last week that "no one would want to pay our fantastic police more than I would", but that the Government is going through a "tough time financially" - depsite releasing plans for a £200 million 'national flagship' in May.

When she announced the pay freeze, Priti Patel said it was to ensure "fairness between public and private sector wage growth" and to "protect public sector jobs".

Labour described the decision as "utterly shameful hypocrisy yet again, especially from Priti Patel".