Acting Deputy National Chair Paul Williams said: "Following his commendable decision to stop the early release of PC Harper's killers, our members will welcome today's commitment from the Prime Minister to look at investment in policing and police numbers.

"Our members desperately want the tools, time and numbers to do the job of policing properly. But this must also come alongside proper pay. The Government's own pay body has said the current system amounts to 'exploitation'. We can't carry on losing experienced, high-quality officers because the hard work and sacrifice required comes with pay that is worth more than a fifth less in real terms than it was in 2010."