Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation (SPF), said any action officers take would be “impactful” after a proposed increase in annual pay of £565 was rejected.

The SPF, which represents 98 per cent of all officers in Scotland, had sought an increase in pay of 3.4 per cent but was offered only two per cent for most members and one per cent for the higher earning ones.

Mr Steele told BBC Scotland: “There is palpable anger across our workforce. The options they we are looking at are wide and they are varied.

“They will be impactful and be in no doubt that the willingness of the police service to simply stand back and accept this derisory offer at a time that other bodies and other workers will be taking much more action than we are capable of doing - the notion that we are going to accept that and stay silent is simply a fantasy.”

Mr Steele added: “There are many options that are available to us. We’re looking strongly at all of them.

“The goodwill that this police service runs on is undoubtedly disappearing faster than snow off the proverbial dyke.

“Whilst police officers can be ordered to undertake overtime, they can’t be ordered to undertake overtime if no one can get hold of them.”

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Negotiations for police officer pay for 2022/23 are currently ongoing through the Police Negotiating Board and we await the outcome of those discussions.”

Last year, police officers received a £700 pay rise and a separate non-consolidated payment of £250. In Scotland, a new constable will start on a salary of £26,737.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Our hard working officers and staff are committed to keeping people safe every day.

“Police pay negotiations are carried out by the Police Negotiating Board and we’re unable to comment further while those discussions are ongoing.”