HERTFORDSHIRE'S police officers have unanimously rejected a government pay deal, along with 73.3 per cent of the force in England and Wales.

In Hertfordshire, 98 per cent of officers took part in the vote about the package, which proposed to reduce compensation for working overtime.

Of those, 94 per cent of officers voted against the pay package on offer.

The Hertfordshire Police Federation, which represents the county's officers, said cutting overtime pay could affect the morale of officers who already have to cover for the 200 vacancies the constabulary has.

The package outlined a cut in pay for working overtime at up to eight and 15 days notice.

Chairman of Hertfordshire Police Federation, Detective Constable Allan Kemp, also said he feared that officers' goodwill towards working overtime will be lost should the proposed package be put into action.

He said: "At the moment, because of difficulties in recruiting and retaining officers, those working in Hertfordshire have to work extremely hard to meet the shortfall, and they do so with a tremendous amount of goodwill.

"The new package means they will not be properly recompensed for this."

However, he was not critical of all of the pay package and said some parts of it would benefit both sides, by allowing greater flexibility.

Hertforshire Police Authority member and County Councillor Chris White said the result signals a collapse in police morale under Home Secretary David Blunkett.

Liberal Democrat Councillor White, said: "Because the Government refuses to pay a market wage rate in Hertfordshire we are seriously short of police officers.

"As a result, there has to be a great deal of overtime working on rest days, at weekends and on public holidays.

"Officers are bailing out the Government by working long hours and are entitled to be rewarded for their efforts to fight crime on our behalf."

The decision over whether to implement the package has now gone to an arbitration panel.