NSW: Costa says will meet with police union over election claims

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NSW: Costa says will meet with police union over election claims

SYDNEY, Dec 5 AAP - NSW Police Minister Michael Costa today said he would meet withthe police union to discuss their claims for the upcoming state election.

NSW Police Association today demanded better pay, conditions and resources to meetthe growing risks and responsibilities of police officers.

It also called for a pay increase above that given to other public servants and warnedthe major political parties police won't tolerate being used as a political football inthe lead up to the state election.

Mr Costa today said he agreed with some of the concerns of the union and had scheduleda meeting next week to talk through their election concerns.

But he said the issue of a pay increase would not be on the agenda because the existingagreement did not expire until June 2005.

"At the right time I will sit down with the association and negotiate through a payarrangement," he said.

"But we're talking about something that's likely to occur at the end of next year."

But Mr Costa ruled out any likelihood of police being able to claim a terrorist-style allowance.

"I think we are all in the same boat and it would be very hard to mount an argumentsolely around the area of terrorism for a pay claim," he said.

"I think we have to be sensible about this."

Mr Costa acknowledged that some police stations needed improving with some dating backto the 19th century.

He said he had already asked the police ministry to look at bringing capital worksfor police stations forward.

Mr Costa said the problem was the result of a "number of decades of under investment".

But any government who said the problems could be resolved in the next four years "wasmisleading the association, the police and the community", he said.

Mr Costa said he would look at the issue of superannuation, but believed a nationalplan needed to be put in place.

AAP nd/nf/mg/sb

KEYWORD: POLICE COSTA