Police agree three-year pay deal

Police officers have agreed a three-year pay deal with the government, the Association of Police Authorities has announced.

The deal, which averages 2.6%, ends months of acrimonious negotiations.

Police Federation chairman Paul McKeever said officers were "content" with the deal.

Officers will be paid an extra 2.65% this year, 2.6% in 2009 and 2.55% in 2010, a source close to the negotiations said.

Paul McKeever, chairman of the Police Federation, said police representatives are "content" with the deal.

He said: "We are realists, we are pragmatists. We are not quixotic idealists who are looking for pyrrhic victories to prove a point. We recognise the economic climate and know what is going on elsewhere. We see the economic indicators.

"Nevertheless, we are there to get the best deal for police officers in this country. We are police officers. We want to fight crime and we want to fight criminals. We do not want to fight the Home Office or the Home Secretary."

Mr McKeever said attention will now turn to negotiations over an on-call allowance, the use of electric stun guns and purpose-built police vehicles.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said she expected the deal would be "in pay packets in full by Christmas".

"I have the utmost regard for for the tireless work that the police do in protecting and serving the public. I think this is an important deal in providing financial certainty for police officers and their families in the coming years. It also ensures that we are able to keep the cost of living under control for other families across the country."