February 19, 2001 11:12: POLICE boss Sir Charles Pollard warned the recruitment crisis in Bucks was far from over despite a proposed increase in officers' allowances.

Cash-strapped officers are to have an extra £2,000 a year to try to help them cope with the high cost of living in Buckinghamshire.

Thames Valley Police officers who joined the force after 1994 are likely to get the living allowance boost under new plans agreed by the Police Negotiating Board (PNB).

But the force's chief constable Sir Charles said there is still much to be done to help officers.

He said: "There's little doubt that the cost of living in the south east has had a serious impact on our ability to recruit and retain officers and there's still much to do to resolve this problem completely. So this allowance is not the end of the debate, it is the beginning, but I hope it will be seen as a good beginning."

Thames Valley Police still has one of the lowest number of officers per head of population in the country and is suffering because the Metropolitan Police offer £6,000 more a year to PCs. At the moment Thames Valley PCs get an average salary of £17,133, rising to £19,170 after 32 weeks.

The new allowance, which will be subject to final approval by Home Secretary Jack Straw, would cover all forces adjoining London.

And the plan, which would come into effect from April 1, will also offer the extra cash to officers rejoining the force as well as new members.

Police Authority chairman Glenn Maybury, a member of the PNB said: "Thames Valley Police and other forces closest to London have had to argue very strongly to achieve this result and we hope it bodes well for the future."

Syreeta Lund