Party pledges on police officers were not enough, delegates said

Delegates at the Scottish Police Federation conference claimed that double the number was required.

Leading figures from each of the four main political parties were questioned by officers at the annual event, in Peebles in the South of Scotland.

Strathclyde Police delegate, Les Gray, branded party pledges for more officers as "a joke".

Scottish Labour's Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson was joined by SNP leader Alex Salmond, Scots Tory leader Annabel Goldie and Jeremy Purvis of the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

The Tories have made a commitment to recruit 1,500 new officers while the Nationalists and Lib Dems say they would take on 1,000.

But Mr Gray said: "I have to be honest, 1,000 police officers is a joke - 1,500 police officers is a joke."

Very short term prison sentences don't work Jeremy Purvis Scottish Liberal Democrats

Pointing out that Strathclyde Chief Constable Sir Willie Rae was among those in the audience, he continued: "If he goes away from here today thinking he's going to get a pro rata share of 1,000 officers, he's not going to go out and buy a case of champagne to celebrate."

Mr Gray, who called for a 20% increase in numbers, was given overwhelming support from delegates when he suggested the federation would be looking for at least 3,000 police officers across Scotland.

Mr Salmond told delegates that justice was one of his party's key priorities, adding that �78m had been set aside to help meet the target of recruiting 1,000 officers.

'Role to play'

He said community wardens were not a substitute for police officers, adding: "It's top of the public's concerns and should be top of the budget priorities."

Ms Jamieson said education was Labour's key priority going into the Scottish Parliament election.

But she insisted that policing was "right up there" adding that 1,500 extra officers had been recruited over the past 10 years.

She also told delegates that community wardens also had "a role to play", adding: "It's important to recognise that communities like them because they do a different job."

Miss Goldie said the Tories were committed to recruiting new officers

Ms Goldie said that the Tories were committed to recruiting 1,500 extra officers.

"Three quarters of crimes are not reported at all so we don't know the real figure," she said.

Ms Goldie said crime in New York had plummeted after police were increased by 50%, adding: "I want the same to happen in Scotland, so that people will think twice before breaking the law."

Mr Purvis said that the Lib Dems wanted 1,000 community officers recruited while continuing the network of community wardens.

Longer seven-year combined community and custodial sentences, he said, would be introduced to deal with knife crime.