The Police Federation of England and Wales has started a legal challenge against the government’s failure to implement the recommendations of the pay review report.

The independent police remuneration review body recommended a three per cent pay rise for officers this year but officers were only granted two per cent.

Police Oracle revealed that the staff association was discussing a potential legal challenge in July, and today the organisation has confirmed its decision.

Chairman John Apter said: “For the second successive year the Home Office has cheated police officers out of the pay increase they should receive.

“In response to this betrayal and based on legal advice, PFEW has instructed solicitors to start judicial review proceedings against the Home Secretary on the basis that he has stated that the pay decision was a government decision and not his decision alone.”

He added: “Police officers must be treated fairly and have confidence that any independent pay recommendations will be accepted in full by the Home Secretary.

“I know the deep sense of anger felt by many of our members about the way they have been treated. This is why we have taken this action and make no apology for doing so.

"Doing nothing was simply not an option and it is right and proper that we challenge this unfairness legally.”

Lawyer and designer of the current pay review process Sir Tom Winsor told the staff association’s May conference that government is not bound to automatically accept pay review recommendations.

"It just doesn’t work that way, it never does,” he said.

Officers in Scotland received their biggest pay rise for more than 20 years last week.

A Home Office spokesman said: "We are grateful to all police officers for the incredible job they do - and will continue to ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively."

He added that the 2018 pay rise was the biggest since 2010, but said he is unable to comment on legal proceedings.