The ramifications of reductions in Government grants to the Police Service will be keenly felt by officers involved in roads policing, it has been claimed.

Addressing the joint Police Federation and ACPO National Roads Policing Conference Alan Jones, who is the Federation Chair for the area, said that cuts of 20 per cent over the next four years would have a massive impact on the Service.

He admitted that there would be a challenge as chief constables moved to manage their dwindling budgets – and considered where the cuts would have to fall.

In his address to the conference in Leicestershire, Mr Jones added: "The impact of the reductions will not be lost on those delivering roads policing functions.

"What you get with less is less – the ramifications will be significant and the cuts are going to affect our ability to deliver. But there are things we can do better."

Mr Jones highlighted that the theme of the conference was Challenge for Change – and suggested that officers would have to raise their game in the wake of austerity measures.

While admitting that morale among officers had been "pretty poor" in the wake of the situation facing the Police Service, he emphasised that they remained committed to their role

Mr Jones told delegates: "I would like to say that you do a magnificent job.

"While morale may be pretty low because of what is happening with pay and terms and conditions, we are uplifted when we are able to make an impact on bad guys or make a good arrest – that is where the satisfaction comes in."

Mr Jones went on to pay tribute to officers who found themselves dealing with horrific circumstances – such as the harrowing M5 motorway crash last year.

He also saluted West Yorkshire PC Mark Goodlad who was killed in a road traffic collision while assisting a woman on a motorway hard shoulder.