Safety Minister Paula Cox told MPs.

Now rank-and-file officers will get special premiums phased in over three years -- not the four originally offered by Government.

And a new long-service payment will be introduced, an offer not contained in the original proposals.

In addition, the basic rate of pay for 1997-98 will be upped by nearly three percent, in line with the original offer.

And Police Association chairman Sgt. Mike Jackman said: "I think the reaction is one of a sense of relief that it is done.'' He added, however: "There is some disappointment in the phasing in of the combined agreement over three years -- that's a major thing.'' And he said the Association would be pushing for its increases to be paid by August -- giving Government a month to find the cash.

Sgt. Jackman welcomed the Mowbray formula which favoured lower-ranked officers in the premium rates because "they face a higher level of danger'' than sergeants and inspectors.

The fresh deal is expected to cost an extra $250,000 to fully implement on top of a whopping $650,000 voted towards Police pay last week by the Permanent Police Tribunal -- called in after more than two years of negotiations ended in stalemate.

Ms Cox told the House of Assembly: "I know that all the parties will welcome the closure so we can now concentrate our focus on doing the job we must in building the best Police Service we can.

"I am a strong believer in establishing and utilising proper processes and it is my hope that, having determined the process and mechanism for deciding pay, future negotiations will be less problematic and speedier.'' Ms Cox added: "Government agreed and accepted that the payment of a combined premium was the best vehicle for compensating officers for the special nature of Police work.

"Government's offer was to phase in this premium over four years and the Permanent Police Tribunal reduced this phasing to three years.

"Finally, the tribunal implements a long service payment for officers which did not exist previously and was not offered in negotiations -- this is to take effect from the year 2000.'' Ms Cox added that other terms -- not covered by the Tribunal's binding findings -- have also been agreed.

Government has backed Police officers being able to take second jobs, although the Mowbray Report into Policing recommended an end to the practice.

But Ms Cox said "qualifying criteria'' for moonlighting set by the Commissioner of Police will have to be met.

Sgt. Jackman said the Association's position had always been that second jobs would be unnecessary if cops were paid properly in the first place.

Ms Cox added: "Now that this question of pay and conditions of service for Police officers is behind us, I believe the Police Service can move forward with the many initiatives currently before them.'' Negotiations foundered after the Police Association insisted on the Mowbray recommendations of allowances of between six and ten percent, backdated to 1997, when the last pay deal expired.

The sticking point was Government's refusal to backdate the premiums, with an offer to phase them in over four years.

Angry officers, who accused Government of dragging its feet over the pay issue, staged a sick-out earlier this year, although not all members of the service supported the move or took part.