FURIOUS Gwent police officers will be protesting over pay in a march in London later this month.

More than 200 off-duty Gwent officers are expected to join forces drawn from England and Wales on January 23 to demonstrate to the government their anger over a recent pay deal.

Under British law it is illegal for police officers to take industrial action in the form of a strike or to form a Trade Union.

Therefore they must express their dismay in the form of protest rally organised by the Police Federation.

Although only off-duty officers will be able to attend the march on Westminster - the Police Federation expect up to 15,000 will make their way to London.

PC Jeff Mapps, 40, Chairman of Gwent Police Federation, said: "It is a sad day, when the public see police officers protesting on the streets, not patrolling them."

"We booked four coaches and now they are all full so we are looking for a fifth coach.

"All the coaches carry about 50 people. Around 230 people in total will be going in their own time.

PC Mapps explained that most of Gwent officers who were able to attend the rally would be aboard the coaches to London and that their stand would have an impact.

"The vast majority who are able to will be going and we certainly hope it is going to send a strong message to the Home Secretary," he said.

"The Home Secretary has totally disregarded the risks officers face every day and has snubbed them by failing to agree an independent arbitration decision."

The Police Arbitration Tribunal recommended a 2.5 per cent pay increase backdated from September 1 was rejected by the Home Secretary Jacqui Smith in favour of backdating the deal to December 1.

And The Police Federation claim that Mrs Smith is unwilling to reconsider the offer.