A police pay offer of two per cent from the Government has been slammed as 'derisory' by the Norfolk Police Federation, which represents rank and file officers.

The association has also claimed the offer would in fact leave officers 'financially worse off' as office pay has decreased in real terms by 18pc since 2009.

Andy Symonds, Chair of Norfolk Police Federation said: 'Today's derisory and simply unfair announcement flies in the face of a lot of hot air spouted by the Home Office and Government over the past few months.

'Less than two weeks ago I watched the Home Secretary who handed Bravery Awards to two officers who took on the London Bridge terrorists. He talked to most officers present giving them his assurances that he would fight and stick up for officers.

'But now this is looking more and more like paying lip service, when in reality this pay award is an insult to those who serve day in, day out. It means that an officer at the start of their service is going to be a miserly £2.50 better off each week.'

Mr Symonds criticised the fact that the Government had ignored the recommendations of the PRRB (an independent group which advises the government on police pay) for the second year running.

'The Government must honour the PRRB process which is based on evidence – we asked for 3.4pc so that officers could be paid fairly for the dangerous job they do after years of austerity. The PRRB recommended a total of 3pc.

'We have played ball – we submit evidence to the pay review body, yet Government dismisses their recommendation'

The pay settlement also announces the introduction of a new apprenticeship starting wage of £18,000 per year – nearly £4,000 less than the yearly salary of a probationer constable in Norfolk.

Mr Symonds added: 'This amount totally undermines what the police service sets out to do. It is derisory and proves they don't invest in their people or want to invest in the development of the service'

'The Government have always accepted their pay award in full recommended by their pay review body and have argued that they cannot do anything about the awards they recommend as its independent. Well it's about time they practised what they preached, accept the Police Pay Review Body's recommendations in full.'