WEST Yorkshire Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Mark Burns-Williamson has welcomed an announcement that officers are to receive a pay rise above the one per cent public sector cap.

But he said the Government must fund the increase.

"This pay rise is long overdue and is welcomed because staff and officers do a tremendous job day-in day-out to keep our communities' safe and feeling safe – they thoroughly deserve this," said Mr Burns-Williamson.

"However, this again highlights the pressures police forces are facing, because asking local forces and PCCs to find the money will put more strain on resources.

"I will be asking the Government to ensure it is providing the funds to make this happen, without any funding impact locally.

"West Yorkshire Police has lost around £140m since 2010 and 2,000 officers and staff, so I believe the affordability of the rise can only be met through government providing the means to cover it.

"The announcement refers to the cost being met from Home Office departmental budgets but doesn't make clear whether that will be existing police budgets, other police budgets such as the transformation fund or other parts of the Home Office.

"If they are expecting it to come out of existing budgets that will not be sustainable, and I believe they have a responsibility to increase our budget accordingly."