<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p><jats:list list-type="bullet"> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>This article follows the campaign conducted by the Police Federation of England and Wales as they strove to overturn the Home Secretary's decision on pay in 2007/2008. The campaign combined direct action, media relations, public affairs and legal action as the Federation sought to galvanise public and political support during their dispute.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> <jats:list-item> <jats:p>The campaign failed to secure its most immediate aim ‐ the restitution of its rightful pay award ‐ but it won considerable concessions from the Government in later salary negotiations.</jats:p> </jats:list-item> </jats:list> Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</jats:p>