POLICE PAY (No. 3)

That this House notes with concern the ongoing unrest amongst police officers over the decision not to backdate police pay to September 2007 as agreed by the arbitration panel; recognises that matters are made much worse by the award to civilian desk staff and police community support officers (PCSOs) of the full 2.5 per cent. pay increase; considers that this causes difficulties when police officers work alongside PCSOs but with much greater responsibility, which has not been recognised in the pay settlement; believes that the Government should honour the agreement reached by the arbitration panel as police officers continue to perform their duties to the highest possible standards in dangerous and difficult circumstances; and calls for fairness in awarding the pay increase to ensure that police officers are treated the same as PCSOs and civilian staff.