THE prospect of an all-out strike by police should put fear into all our hearts.

Why? Because the last time it happened in London and Liverpool in 1919 it did not take long for law and order to break down.

Riots and looting broke out and the navy and army had to be called in to restore the rule of law in parts of Liverpool and Birkenhead.

Liverpool experienced a major breakdown in social order, suffering serious outbreaks of mob violence, looting and burning of property.

Before the Liverpool police strike was over, a battleship and two destroyers had been sent from Scapa Flow to back the army who were drafted in on both sides of the Mersey as the riots in Birkenhead were equally serious.

The two major roads bordering the docks area at that time, Scotland Road and London Road, were the scene of some of the worst trouble with windows in many shops and businesses being smashed.

More than 300 prisoners were sentenced for their part in the weekend lawlessness and a man died after being shot by one of the hundreds of soldiers drafted into the city to protect property and prevent trouble from engulfing the whole of Liverpool.

In the end the police received pay rises, better pensions and conditions, but many of the strikers lost their jobs and pension entitlements.

Their illegal union was never recognised by the Government of the day and the Police Federation was formed to represent the interests of all officers.

Police officers across the UK are currently banned from taking strike action under the Police Act 1996.

The prospect of police going on strike this year or at any time in the future is distant as the Government would need to legislate to allow that to happen.

And even police officers at the forefront of the dispute say they cannot see any Home Secretary returning the right to strike to such as essential force as the police.

But that will not deter the Police Federation from balloting members on whether they would like the right to strike.

That unprecedented ballot will take place within the month, according to Gordon Johnson, secretary of the North-west branch of the Police Federation.

He says: "Last year we went to arbitration for a similar amount and we received that in full. This year the Government has taken £200 from every police officer by delaying implementing our 2.5 per cent increase by three months - making it worth just 1.9 per cent.

"There are a lot of very unhappy police officers out there who feel they have been betrayed by the Home Secretary.

"The pay settlement arbitration appears to be binding on the police but not on the Government.

"Around 14,000 police officers, including 800 from GMP, will be lobbying parliament on January 23.

"Most police officers do not want to strike but the general consensus is that the ballot will be split down the middle and it will be a warning shot across the Government's bow."

He added that policemen are often told to live in a certain place by senior officers - for instance police officers cannot live in licensed premises.

"People forget about these kind of restrictions which the police have to live with."

He added that the Home Secretary had indicated that she might set up a police pay review body which would mean the Government would have complete control over the whole pay process.

They may not be able to strike but police officers can legally work-to-rule, which could severely hit the service and they can also withdraw from voluntary posts, such as policing football matches.

The pay increase was due to come into force by September 1 but came into operation on December 1.

The Home Secretary Jacqui Smith added that the pay award would be "just under two per cent", keeping it in line with the Government's target for inflation.

The government is standing firm, saying police officers should not get a better deal than other public service workers such as nurses and teachers.

Prime Minister Gordon Brown also made it quite clear at the Commons Liaison Committee that Jacqui Smith had his full backing.

Brown defended not implementing the pay review body's award in full, saying: "The decision at the end of the day was a decision the Home Secretary had to make in the national interest.

"People should look at the bigger picture here and the future of the British economy."

One serving police officer, who cannot be named, says that morale in Bolton has slumped following the announcement on the pay increase.

"Ordinary officers are absolutely furious at what this Government has done. If we have to abide by an arbitration agreement then so should the Government or what is the point of having arbitration?

"We feel let down by the Home Secretary who should have known that ripping us off with the lower amount would just make everyone very angry.

"Senior officers are annoyed too as their pay is affected by this decision as well."

CONSTABLES' POLICE PAY

On completion of initial training £23,454
10 years service £32,985

SERGEANTS' POLICE PAY
On starting service £32,985
4 years service £37,071

INSPECTORS' POLICE PAY
On starting service £42,264

CHIEF INSPECTORS' POLICE PAY
1 years service £46,779

SUPERINTENDENTS' POLICE PAY
1 years service £56,274

GREATER MANCHESTER
CHIEF CONSTABLE'S SALARY £163,908

DEPUTY CHIEF CONSTABLE'S SALARY £125,667