THE new chief constable of Police Scotland will inherit a force facing a "stark financial challenge" and staff morale at an all time low, according to policing figures.

With a shortfall of £11 million this year and the head of the police watchdog warning things are set to get worse, the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) claims the country's new top officer will face an uphill battle.

The force also has to find total savings of £1.1 billion by 2026.

The Federation, which represents rank and file officers, also believes public sector wage stagnation and pension changes have left officers feeling "more undervalued than they have ever been", while trade union Unison says the raft of cuts to police staff has also had a significant impact on its members.

Current chief constable Sir Stephen House yesterday announced his decision to resign at the start of December.

Calum Steele, SPF general secretary, said: "I've no doubt that the new chief whoever it may be, will come in and make lots of exciting, forward thinking and progressive statements about the challenges facing the force and the way forward.

"But the reality is that they will be faced with the same stark financial challenge."

He added: "The service is down at the moment and there are some things that cannot be changed. There's no prospect of public sector pay improving in the near future and the pension reforms are not going to be reversed.

"The continuing need to make savings will undoubtedly result in cuts being made somewhere.

"All of these things will make it difficult for anybody taking on the role."

Unison argued that the 1500 police staff job cuts had also had an impact on the mood of civilian workers, and claimed that the new chief needs to have a "strong voice" to stand up to the Scottish Government on its 17,234 set officer number and budget constraints.

Regional organiser Gerry Crawley said: "The budget situation at Police Scotland is grim. The new chief constable will be charged with achieving £1.1bn of cuts by 2026.

"For us, this means more support staff will have to go to balance the books."

Mr Crawley argued this will have further impact on staff who are already feeling low, adding: "The new chief constable will have to look at that and I think one of the best ways he can deal with that is to have a strong voice and go to Government and say to them 'how can we be expected to balance the books and continue delivering a first class public service?'."

At a meeting of watchdog the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) on Thursday, chairman Vic Emery said the third year of Police Scotland was always going to be financially challenging, and warned: "If we think this year is difficult, wait until next year."

The SPA said it is now working with the force to ensure "savings opportunities" are "appropriately exhausted".

Mr Steele argued that an area the new chief can have a positive impact on is looking to improve the force's reputation.

He said: "I think the first thing that a new chief has to do is to look to improve the image of the service.

"It could be argued that in allowing so much criticism to go relatively unanswered, the service has not defended its own reputation.

"While finances are always going to be an issue, I would hope that a fair degree of public relations and internal relations work is done."

Meanwhile, the parents of a man who was found dead in Wick in 1997 said Sir Stephen's departure was "good riddance".

In a letter to The Herald, High and June McLeod said Sir Stephen's response to their requests fr a review of the case was "short, abrupt, disrespectful and wholly unprofessional".

They also accused him of having "blind, bullish self-confidence".

Chief Superintendent Eleanor Mitchell, Head of Professional Standards said: "The handling of the case into the death of Kevin McLeod was referred to the Police Investigations Review Commissioner and one recommendation was made which has since been complied with."