pay increases were set to be delayed for up to two months.

And that means the new deal is likely to be in place just before pay negotiations for the current year starts in October.

Police Association chairman Sgt. Mike Jackman said: "I know people will be upset and disappointed at any delay.

But he added: "It's another test of our patience -- I suppose we just have to wait until it's done.'' Police -- while welcoming the new deal announced on Friday and brokered by a tribunal after talks with Government broke down -- said they wanted full payment by August.

Labour and Home Affairs Minister Paula Cox told MPs on Friday that officers will get a 2.98 percent pay rise for 1997-98, to be paid first and by the end of next month. Special premium payments, to be phased in over three years, not four as in the original Government offer, will begin up to a month later.

A new long service payment -- not contained in the original offer -- will also be introduced, but not until 2000.

Ms Cox said this week: "We indicated to the Police Association that we're certainly going to do everything in our power ASAP.

But she explained: "The pay rate will probably be seen by the end of August -- in terms of the combined premium payment, that may take an extra month.'' Ms Cox said the premium payments, set at between six and ten percent depending on rank, were more complicated to calculate and would need extra time.

She added: "You have to bear in mind that payments have to be in to the Accountant General by a certain time to be processed.

"It's logistic issues -- not a lack of will, but administrative details, which will cause the delay.'' Sgt. Jackman said: "The thing is that our position is that we've had to wait a long time -- nearly two years. The Minister has had the report since July 15 and we're being asked to wait another two months.

"The major anxiety among our officers is when they're going to get paid -- people have bills to pay.

"And I have to tell my members that we're not going to get the money they've been waiting for for two years for another two months.

"We just really want to get this whole thing over and done with as soon as we can.'' Sgt. Jackman added: "We're talking about maybe six weeks -- fine, there are administrative things that need to be done, but we don't see why it can't be done by August.

"We would prefer if it was all done by August -- people are saying it can't be done, but we'd like to see an effort made to try and see if it can be done.

"There is closure when we see there is money in our paypackets -- it's not when a pay award is made.

"It will only be over and done with when we get that final award in our paycheques.'' Negotiations foundered after the Police Association insisted on recommendations in the Mowbray Report for premium payments to be backdated to 1997, when the last pay deal expired.

The Permanent Police Tribunal called in to come up with a decision binding on both sides went for three years instead of the Government offer of four.

Angry officers, who accused Government and the previous administration of dragging their feet over the pay deal, staged a sick-out earlier this year, although not all officers supported it or took part.