POLICE FACE A PAY FREEZE IN BUDGET CRISIS

He said: “Officers know the financial realities everybody’s facing at the moment, they are realistic that something like this could happen.

“Ultimately when you see people losing their jobs every day, the important thing is that officer numbers are maintained.”

In 2007 Scots officers were given a 2.5 per cent pay deal over three years, which expires at the end of this year.

Members of the authority, who met at the City Chambers in Glasgow, also approved the £442.8million budget for 2010/11.

Mr Macleod told the meeting that this year’s £5million underspend would go towards the £16million shortfall, adding: “There are difficult times ahead, as everyone knows.”

Mr House later insisted the number of officers would continue to rise despite budget shortfalls. He said: “The whole of the public sector is facing some difficult years.

“We will try to maintain the number of police officers at its current level, its record level. And we will try and do that for as long as we can. Just to be clear, the budget for next year continues the rise in officers.”

Papers shown to the authority said 91 new officers were planned for the 2010/11 financial year, with the budget supporting a 8,105 total.

It is thought the drop in the current figure of 8,269 will come from retirements. Officials are reviewing travel and accommodation costs and plan to introduce electronic payslips.

Other measures to combat the shortfall, include the cost of doctors called out to inspect people brought into police stations.

Papers showed the force intends to cut its £3.6million GP call-out budget by £500,000 in 2010/11.