A FORMER Kent Police chief has advised officers in the county not to go on strike, even though he has sympathy with their cause over the latest pay dispute.

Ken Tappenden, a former ch superintendent, has warned them that "public support might diminish for them".

Mr Tappenden spoke of his concerns about the possible police strike following the Home Office's refusal to backdate their 2.5 per cent pay rise.

Officers are angry that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has withheld three months of back pay by introducing the pay rise from December 1 instead of September 1, which was recommended by an independent tribunal, and since been backdated in Scotland.

Now police will be balloted in the New Year on whether they want the right to strike.

Mr Tappenden, 69, from Rochester, stressed: "It's quite a disgrace. The Government is using the police as a soft target.

"If they get away with only giving 1.9 per cent they will never consider giving 2.5 per cent again. It will be a ceiling for police pay for a long while.

"The Government is stuffing them. But I wouldn't want the police to go on strike as public support might diminish for them."

Mr Tappenden, now a trained toastmaster and Master of Ceremonies, also believes the Government is not paying the police to do their job to protect the public and maintain the law but rather to do what it wants.

One example he gave is that officers will be trained to look after prisoners if prison officers go on strike after Christmas.

He added: "The Government is using the police like a puppet on a string.

"Every officer in every rank in this police force must be saying 'enough is enough. They are taking us as fools.'"

Mr Tappenden also disagrees with Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who refuses to change his mind over the backdated agreement, believing it could increase inflation.

"The Government is just penny-pinching. It's their turn to have a fight with the police before it was with the nurses," he added.

"As much as we complain against the police. I still say they are the best in the world because of our integrity, fairness and honesty."

During his career, Mr Tappenden was awarded seven judges' commendations for outstanding work and the MBE for services to the police and the community.