The four police unions and home affairs minister Guusje ter Horst have agreed to extend the current police pay deal for another year, meaning an effective pay freeze in 2011.

The current pay deal, which includes a 3.25% rise in 2010, had been due to expire next year. The unions have also agreed to scrap bonuses for police officers who never take time off sick and cut pay levels for trainee officers.
At the same time, the minister has agreed there will be no compulsory redundancies during the current round of spending cuts. This means police officers and support staff whose jobs disappear in the reorganisational process will be offered an alternative position.
The minister has also set up an independent inquiry into police chief salaries and expenses following concerns some police bosses have been wrongly claiming thousands of euros in extra pay.