Police agree pay deal

Police officers took their protest to Westminster

Rank-and-file police officers have backed a pay deal, saving the government's plans to reform the service.

The police and their employers had been locked in a bitter battle over proposed cuts in overtime.

The Home Office and the Police Federation reached an agreement in principle last month and on Thursday the majority of Federation members surveyed around the country gave it their backing.

The agreement will see officers' basic wages rise in return for a 15% cut in overtime payments over the next three years.

The overall package offers increased rewards for those undertaking the most challenging and difficult roles

Chief Constable Jane Stichbury

The news will come as a boost to Tony Blair, who is under pressure to tackle soaring street crime rates.

The agreement also closes the loophole on sick pay which enables officers to claim half pay indefinitely during prolonged periods of sick leave.

The Police Federation said the deal secured their "five key conditions".

And although it was not unanimously supported by members, a "clear majority" accepted the offer, a spokesman said.

Investment

Chairman Fred Broughton said: "This agreement includes an additional £200m investment in policing to safeguard living standards, improve recruitment and allow officers to concentrate on policing."

Association of Chief Police Officers spokeswoman and Chief Constable of Dorset Jane Stichbury said the investment was "greatly needed at a time of such radical change".

She added: "The overall package offers the potential for greater flexibility, increased rewards for experienced officers and for those undertaking the most challenging and difficult roles."

Home Secretary David Blunkett had called the deal the "most radical reform ever" of police pay and conditions.

Blunkett is "very pleased" with the agreement

Last March, more than 10,000 police officers converged on Westminster in protest at the pay deal offer.

A Home Office spokeswoman denied the government had climbed down on key issues.

It says it will cut 15% from the annual £300m overtime bill, saving about £45m over three years from April 2003.

Under the deal, officers will receive £400 from April next year on top of their basic salary.

'21st century police'

Mr Blunkett has promised the savings on overtime would be "ploughed back" into providing more frontline officers.

He said: "This is a substantial step forward in our police reform programme.

"We will now have a modernised pay structure and working conditions for the 21st century to go with the wider policing reforms we are introducing."

The deal applies across the UK - in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

The Scottish Police Federation said the new deal was the best that could have been expected by members.

The government still faces an uphill battle to get its Police Reform Bill through Parliament.

The Bill has been defeated at several stages in the Lords but ministers say the defeats will be reversed when it returns to the House of Commons.