Give Police Fair Pay says Leech

5.30.00pm GMT Mon 14th Jan 2008

More and more officers are considering leaving the service in the current climate

The government must give the police a fair pay rise says Liberal Democrat MP, John Leech, who represents Manchester Withington.

Speaking during a parliamentary debate, John Leech, who has lead a campaign against recent cuts to the numbers of police officers in Greater Manchester, spoke out against the unfairness of the governments treatment of the police and warned that the effect would be to undermine morale and lead to an exodus of experienced officers.

John Leech said:

"The police are committed and dedicated to their jobs. They have agreed to be bound by independent arbitration, and the Home Secretary's decision not to honour the agreement is a kick in the teeth for every serving police officer.

"When I met union representatives from the Greater Manchester branch of the Police Federation, with my Liberal Democrat colleagues from Greater Manchester, they made clear the impact of the situation on the morale of serving police officers, and said that more and more officers were considering leaving the service.

"They pointed out that Greater Manchester police could afford to pay the full increase proposed by the independent arbitration panel, as it had been budgeted for in the GMP budget. They also highlighted the fact that civilian staff and community support officers will receive a bigger percentage increase than police officers as a result of the Home Secretary's actions. This is grossly unfair. The Labour Government should be ashamed of the way in which they are treating our police, who deserve better."

ENDS