Angry PSNI officers have handed back their police service medals after being blocked from taking early retirement in Northern Ireland, it was revealed today.
With up to 300 threatening legal action against Chief Constable Hugh Orde, the special awards and recognition of their work during the worst of the violence were returned in protest.
Under the Patten blueprint for overhauling the old Royal Ulster Constabulary, hundreds of men and women have been able to take severance packages and quit the force.
But furious officers who do not qualify under the age plus service points system - despite joining the police before many of those now taking retirement - have decided to go to the US police chief who is monitoring reforms.
RUC George Cross Service Medals and Long Service and Good Conduct Medals were given to Oversight Commissioner Tom Constantine.
A senior Special Branch man and a long-serving uniformed officer both handed in their awards and lodged an official complaint during a meeting with Mr Constantine's No.2 in Belfast on Monday.
It is believed more of their colleagues plan similar protests.
The officers claim the voluntary severance scheme, which is calculated on officers' age and the number of years in the force, is unfair. PA