As reported in the Courier last week, Mr Fowler, pictured, has collected almost 400 signatures from his colleagues around Warwickshire to urge the government to review the length of time officers have to serve before being able to receive a long service medal.

The current period is 22 years, but because fire and ambulance service employees, as well as prison officers, are recognised after 20, Mr Fowler - who has himself been on the force for 22 years - would like to see a change.

Since he approached Mr Plaskitt last week, the Warwick and Leamington MP has already written to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to find out if the situation will be reviewed.

He said: "It does look a bit odd - certainly I cannot see on the surface of it any reason why it should be different for the police service.

"I am happy to support Ken's campaign and am going to try to help him. I had not been aware of it before - he has done us a service to draw our attention to the matter."

Mr Fowler, who did not wish to let his rank be known, has also had positive responses from the shadow minister for police reform David Ruffley - who has since written to the minister for policing Vernon Coaker - as well as Warwickshire Police Chief Constable Keith Bristow and members of the other emergency services.

Mr Fowler is confident that he will gather hundreds more signatures to add to his petition from policemen and women around the country. He plans to present it to the Home Secretary in the new year.

He said: "You are normally given a year to collect names for presenting a petition to the government, but I'm hoping that once ours has been published in the national police magazines in December, we will gather so many signatures that we can present it before then."

l Anyone wishing to add their name to the petition should visit:

petitions.number10.gov.uk/plsgcm