THE organisation that represents rank and file police officers in England and Wales praised the SNP’s support for colleagues in Scotland, who are set to receive an immediate 6.5% pay increase.

The chairman of the Police Federation for England and Wales, John Apter, said the UK Government has shown “contempt” for people who risk their lives for the public.

He said of the Scottish increase: “While this is positive news in Scotland, it is hard to stomach for their colleagues in England and Wales.

“The Scottish Government has shown its support for policing. It has delivered more than warm words. Officers here are sick of pleasantries from politicians which in reality they mean nothing. For a government to show such contempt for those who put their lives on the line for the public is shameful.”

SNP MSP Fulton MacGregor, who sits on Holyrood’s Justice Committee, said: “While the Tories in England are presiding over the lowest number of police officers recorded since the early 1980s, the SNP are maintaining police numbers above 2007 levels and giving officers the biggest pay rise in 20 years.

“It’s embarrassing that the Brexit-obsessed Tories are telling Scots to focus on the issues that matter the most to people as they categorically fail to manage crime and justice south of the Border.

“Scotland has a higher number of officers than at any time during the previous administration, with a higher police to population ratio than the rest of the UK. Over a decade of SNP Government, we have made huge progress tackling crime on our streets, but we want to do even more.

“That’s why our Programme for Government has committed a major package of reforms to the justice system, introducing a new support system for victims, witnesses and families of those affected by crime as well as for engagement between victims and offenders to benefit victims and prevent reoffending.”