POLICE PAY (No. 2)

That this House notes the excellent job performed by police officers throughout the North West of England; recognises the diverse nature of policing throughout the United Kingdom and the North West, ranging from the major cities of Manchester and Liverpool to rural areas in Lancashire and Cumbria; expresses grave concern at the decision taken by the Home Office to award a pay rise from December 2007 which in effect leaves police officers with a rise of 1.9 per cent.; believes that the 2.5 per cent. pay increase agreed by the arbitration panel is thoroughly deserved by police officers; and calls on the Home Secretary to overturn her current policy and honour the agreement reached by the arbitration panel by backdating the increase to September in order to ensure that police officers are given the reward and respect that they deserve.