POLICE in Essex could take industrial action if cuts are made to their pay and conditions.

The stark warning came from Tony Rayner, chairman of the Essex Police Federation, who launched a scathing attack on Home Secretary Theresa May.

Currently, by law, police are not allowed to take strike action, but officers could work to rule and, for example, refuse to work overtime to deal with major incidents or prisoners in custody.

Mr Rayner said: “The Home Secretary has already destroyed what little is left of police morale. I can’t rule out industrial action by police officers.”

As the Government continues to slash spending, Mrs May revealed yesterday she is not ruling out cutting officers’ pay.

She said keeping officers on the frontline had to come before their salaries and other bonuses.

However, Mr Rayner launched a scathing attack on Mrs May. He said, despite commissioning Tom Winsor to carry out an independent review on police pay and conditions – due to be published next week – the Home Secretary had already made her decision to press ahead with the cuts.

Mr Rayner said: “The Police Federation is sick and tired of the media manipulation going on from the Government and the way the public is being softened up for what the Government is going to do to their police forces.

“The Home Secretary commissioned a completely independent review on police pay and conditions, but today gives a speech at which she announces effectively what is going to be in that review.

“How can you have any faith in the report’s independence when they’ve gone on already and made their decision?”

Mr Rayner also rubbished Mrs May’s suggestion all forces should send officers out on patrol alone to save cash.

He added: “We have had single-crewing in the police force for all my 31-and-a-half years in the force.

“Sometimes you do need to double crew if you are sending officers out on the motorway or to deal with a certain type of incident.

“This is all smoke and mirrors.”