Calum Steele

The Scottish Police Federation (SPF) warned Holyrood that without more funds from the Scottish government, leaving the EU could result in a “catastrophic impact” on everyday policing.

In a letter to MSPs, SPF general secretary Calum Steele said: “We estimate that Brexit alone will create demand equivalent to between 750 and 900 officers.

“Clearly, we are aware that even if we were to start today that we could not recruit and train the number immediately deployable on March 29.

“That being said, the SPF considers that the police service of Scotland must be fully funded to ensure a police service of circa 17,550 officers.”

He added: “We consider this to be the minimum that would be required to ensure the policing of Brexit-related issues could be delivered without any catastrophic impact on other day-to-day policing activities.”

Scottish Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: “It is now clear that Police Scotland is suffering as a result of being starved of resources by the SNP government. That has resulted in fewer police on our streets and crime rising for the first time in a decade.

“Scottish Labour has called for the SNP government to introduce a Community Policing Fund to restore the 350 police officers that have been lost on the SNP’s watch.”