POLITICIANS from Cambridgeshire demanded a fairer pay deal for the county s police force during a debate in Parliament last week. On Wednesday Jonathan Djanogly and Shailesh Vara both spoke in a debate which was initiated by Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterb

POLITICIANS from Cambridgeshire demanded a fairer pay deal for the county's police force during a debate in Parliament last week.

On Wednesday Jonathan Djanogly and Shailesh Vara both spoke in a debate which was initiated by Stewart Jackson, MP for Peterborough.

The county has one of the fastest growing populations in the country, yet Cambridgeshire police says its funding from the Government takes no account of these new pressures.

Mr Vara, MP for North West Cambridgeshire, said: "Cambridgeshire police are doing the best they can with the limited resources available. The Home Office needs to understand that this issue is not going to go away simply by giving it warm words. We need action and it needs to be now."

Huntingdon MP Mr Djanogly added: "The Minister was left in no doubt of our position here - but he simply re-stated existing policy with a rather weak promise to discuss our points with the (absent) Police Minister.

"We have some serious funding problems in Cambridgeshire and, as the local population rises, those problems will only grow."

A large increase in Cambridgeshire's population - both through development and migration - is said not to be adequately recognised by the Government in the police funding formula.

Politicians believe Cambridgeshire police has received approximately £17.5m less than it deserves since 2002.

Chief Constable Julie Spence has met with the Home Office to discuss funding, but so far her attempts to gain an increased settlement have not been successful.