The SNP is being pressed over a manifesto commitment Salmond response

Opposition leaders accused the SNP of misleading voters after ministers said they would boost capacity by the "equivalent" of 1,000 extra officers.

The minority government was defeated in the Scottish Parliament over the plans.

First Minister Alex Salmond confirmed the rise would be in recruitment, retention and redeployment.

Labour leader Wendy Alexander accused Mr Salmond of misquoting his own party manifesto - which set out plans in its first budget for "1,000 more police" - in a previous exchange with her over police numbers.

As soon as we recruit the first police officer, that will be one more than the Labour Party promised in the election campaign Alex Salmond First minister

The government subsequently promised the "equivalent" of this number.

"The word 'equivalent' does not appear in this section of the manifesto," said Ms Alexander during First Minister's Questions.

Mr Salmond said plans for police recruitment would be set out in the 14 November budget, adding: "We will deliver an additional 1,000 police officers in our communities through increased recruitment, improved retention and redeployment.

"As soon as we recruit the first police officer, that will be one more than the Labour Party promised in the election campaign."

The Scottish Government was defeated at Holyrood after the concerns were raised in a Conservative-led debate and backed by Labour and the Liberal Democrats.

The Tory motion passed by parliament expressed serious concern over an "apparent dilution" of an SNP commitment.

Conservative leader Annabel Goldie said Mr Salmond had broken a "cast iron" policing promise, asking: "Will he now come clean, admit that the SNP cannot be trusted and that he has betrayed the public and he has betrayed our police?

"He promised 1,000 extra police. Scotland currently has 16,261 officers, so when we will we have 17,261 officers?

"Or is the truth really that, under the SNP, the answer is never?"