POLICE officers in North Yorkshire are concerned they may not be able to afford to attend work, and have warned "the service is crumbling at its foundations".

Following the government's announcement of a two per cent rise for officers, which North Yorkshire Police Federation said was "worth only a 0.85 per cent increase in real terms", and described as "derisory", further details about financial issues affecting officers.

A spokesman for the North Yorkshire Police Federation said officers were concerned about being able to pay to be able to attend work with other forces, as mutual aid - forces supporting other areas - is increasingly necessary.

He said: "I have supported a number of officers over the last 12 months who have approached us for advice after being informed that they are being posted elsewhere in the county.

"Their worry has been that they will not be able to afford the additional fuel costs travelling to work. One particular officer was literally living hand to mouth and suggested that an additional £40 per month fuel bill would have to be paid on his already stretched credit card as he simply could not afford it out of his monthly pay."

The spokesman said officers pay had in effect dropped over the years, with allowances, pensions, special priority payments and competency related threshold payments cut or removed, and officers had "effectively had their pay slashed by thousands of pounds a year".

He said: "This, coupled with the governments obvious disregard for recommendations made by the Pay Review Body, is nothing more than another kick in the teeth for the police service which is already struggling to maintain acceptable service levels and meet demands.

The police service is an easy target, politicians know we have little power to stand up to them, they know we just have to 'suck it up'. We don’t have industrial rights. All we have is our voice and the support from our public. Now is the time say enough is enough, treat us fairly with the respect we deserve. The service is crumbling at its foundations, officers are breaking down under the pressure, serious crime is rising. This is not us crying wolf, it is a proven fact. The government needs to act and invest properly to rebuild what was once a highly regarded police service before it’s too late.

"Officers do not do this job for the money, it’s no longer a financially attractive career. They do it because it’s a calling, they’re proud to serve the public and their communities, they have decided they will be the ones to run towards the danger that others flee from."