THE chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation said the "time was right to strike" after branding a pay offer "disgraceful".

The federations fears that the Government may be about to backtrack on a decision to award Police Officers a 2.5 per cent pay rise.

A leaked confidential letter written by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to Chancellor Alistair Darling asks him to back her decision not to back-pay a police wage rise from September, effectively cutting the pay rise from 2.5 per cent to 1.9 per cent.

This is a lower award than any other emergency service or public sector body in England and Wales.

Across the country, federations are discussing striking at the move.

And Steve Edwards, chairman of Lancashire Police Federation, representing 3,500 constables, sergeants, inspectors and chief inspectors, said the "time for patience has gone".

He said: "Police officers are not prepared to put up with this disgraceful and underhanded treatment any longer.

"I believe the time is now right for us to seek the right to strike for our members.

"It appears that reasonable negotiations are no longer possible with this Government and they see the inability of police officers to strike as a weakness to be exploited.

"Even if she were now to back date the award to the September 1 the tone of the letter is such that I have lost all confidence in her as a Home Secretary and her position has become untenable.

"The whole tone of the letter shows an utter disregard and contempt for police officers who have trusted the negotiating machinery and waited patiently for their pay rise."

A Home Office spokesman said that despite the letter, no final decision had been made.

He said: "It is important that she the Home Secretary gives the findings proper and careful consideration before making her decision on the police officer pay settlement."