Sympathy for the police?

Yes, they have been badly treated - as the end of last year's negotiations and squeezed as if they were the beginning of the next negotiation year.

But they are now talking about "working to rule" - I thought that they were already, with the risk and health and safety assessments before tackling serious matters. Given the requirements laid on them, including the paperwork and targets, some of the police will struggle to get out of the station at all.

At the moment they have mine, if not our, good will, but if they are taking industrial action disguised as rules and if public safety is compromised as a consequence our goodwill is likely to disappear fast.

In the end by merely not doing voluntary overtime, policing could be threatened. If as a consequence police forces have to cover as best they can, - something the Police Federation thinks will cost £90 million a year or twice what they full pay award would have cost, then everyone loses.

The police will obviously have to concentrate their limited labour-time on more serious issues, such as accidents, murder, serious crime. It means that the annoying and worrying so-called minor problems like vandalism and anti-social behaviour will have a freer run.