Scotland's police force is not in crisis, and officer numbers are expected to be maintained at current levels, the First Minister has said.
The force is facing a £21 million shortfall in running costs this year, despite an £18 million budget boost from the Scottish Government for 2016/17.
READ MORE: Scottish Government says Brexit will cost Scots economy £11.2bn each year
The Scottish Police Federation (SPF), representing rank and file officers, has already launched a high-profile campaign against cuts to the service.
It says cost-cutting measures have already seen officers sent to charity shops to buy equipment, while some investigations into drug dealers were being shelved to avoid overtime costs.
Police officer numbers fell to their lowest level for more than five years between April and June, although the number remains well above 2007 levels at 17,242 full-time equivalents.
READ MORE: Scottish Government says Brexit will cost Scots economy £11.2bn each year
The SNP dropped its pledge to maintain 1,000 extra officers earlier this year.
Asked about a "crisis" in the force at a press conference in Edinburgh, Nicola Sturgeon said: "I don't think the single force is in crisis.
"We work with the police and the Scottish Police Authority to make sure that we have got policing in this country that is appropriate to the needs of this country."
On the prospect of cuts to officer numbers, she added: "Police officers in Scotland are office holders, their terms and conditions are set out in statute, police constables cannot be made redundant in Scotland. That is the legal position.
"So this idea that there is threat of redundancy to police is not true.
"We have, of course, protected police numbers at 1,000 above the number we inherited, and the Justice Secretary very recently has made it clear to the Chief Constable that is the position we expect them to maintain.
READ MORE: Scottish Government says Brexit will cost Scots economy £11.2bn each year
"Like all parts of the public sector right now, of course there are challenges around public spending and we work with public authorities to make sure these challenges are handled appropriately and handled in way that protects frontline services, and that will continue to be the position with the police as well."
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