The Police Federation has urged Theresa May to keep the country safe by investing in the police force. 

Conservative leader Mrs May says she will form an administration to govern Britain for the next five years, despite disastrous results in a snap election which left her short of the MPs she needs to command an overall majority in the House of Commons.

In a statement in Downing Street, the Prime Minister made clear that she would rely on the support of the far right Democratic Unionist Party in order to get her programme through Parliament.

She said despite losing a dozen MPs in the June 8 poll, she intended to press ahead with her plans to take the UK out of the European Union and forge a new trade deal with its former partners.

DUP leader Arlene Foster confirmed she had spoken to the Prime Minister and would be entering talks with the Conservatives to discuss "how it may it be possible to bring stability to our nation at this time of great challenge".

Steve White, Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “The Prime Minister has today pledged that the new Government will work to keep the nation safe and secure, and mentions giving the police ‘the powers’ they need to keep the country safe.

“That’s all very well – and we, the Federation, will continue to provide advice and suggestions to that end.

“But we can’t ignore that safety and security has been brought into sharp focus in recent weeks, tragically for all the wrong reasons.

 “The protection of its citizens should be the primary responsibility of any government – today Theresa May announced she is to lead a minority Government, possibly supported by the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). She can start by properly investing in our police service.

“The postcode lottery we hear spoken about in health and education is one we’re fast seeing develop in policing. We have all seen and heard how officers will not hesitate; will not flinch when running towards danger, but their ability to do so in every pocket of England and Wales is hampered by the number that exist to do the job – or not, as is the reality.

“Now more than ever, we need a commitment to change for the better.  There is no quick fix but there are quick actions that can be taken to help better protect the public and the police – quick actions that will instil trust in this new government.

“Mrs May must start as she means to go on and show the country that they take public safety seriously – financial investment back into policing is the least that they must do.”

Mrs May faced calls from within her own party to consider her position after the election, which she brought forward by three years in the hope it would deliver her a comfortable Commons majority, ended with Labour making significant advances.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn urged her to resign and allow him to form a minority administration, declaring: "We are ready to serve this country."

But, after intensive talks with the DUP as the final election results came in, the Prime Minister instead drove the short distance to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a new government.

Speaking after her return from a 20-minute audience with the Queen, Mrs May said she intended to form a new administration to take Britain into the Brexit negotiations beginning on June 19.