THE chairman of the Kent Police Federation has welcomed news that the organisation will be allowed to take the Home Secretary to court.

The Police Federation of England and Wales was yesterday granted permission to launch a High Court challenge against Jacqui Smith’s decision not to honour a 2.5 per cent pay rise for officers that had been recommended by the independent Police Arbitration Tribunal.

The Home Secretary’s refusal to back date the pay rise to September, bringing it down to 1.9 per cent, caused outraged in forces across the UK.

A judge said on Monday that he had "no hesitation" in ruling there was an arguable case to apply for judicial review.

Chairman of Kent Police Federation Ian Pointon said: “This is good news for the 3,600 police officers in Kent cheated out of their full pay rise and betrayed by the Home Secretary.”

He added: “The Home Secretary picked a fight with the police over loose change. We warned her we wouldn't go away.

“She now has a last chance to re-think, back date the award and, more importantly, start to rebuild the trust she has so cavalierly thrown away."

The Police Federation represents police officers up to and including the rank of Chief Inspector.