'Crisis' as police reject reforms

Police officers have " massively rejected" the Home Office ' s proposed pay reforms, it was confirmed today.

The move, a huge personal defeat for David Blunkett, comes after months of negotiations and signals open warfare between frontline police and the Home Secretary.

Police Federation chairman Fred Broughton said the outcome of a ballot of the 126,000 frontline officers in England and Wales, in which the turnout is thought to have been about 80 per cent, was conclusive and the rejection was "massive and significant". Exact figures are due to be revealed later today.

Mr Broughton spoke of " demoralisation of the police service" and added: "We have, I describe it today, a crisis."

Officers cannot take industrial action but the No vote means conciliation talks while the issues of pay, overtime and hours may have to go to independent arbitration.

Mr Blunkett has now effectively lost the confidence of all ranks. He had already upset senior police after warning, in an Evening Standard interview, that the Met had six months to clamp down on street robbery or face a takeover in failing boroughs.