TATTON MP Esther McVey has won the support of one of the country’s top police officers in her fight to force the next Prime Minister to enshrine in law the same support for police as the Armed Forces.

The Police Covenant would recognise the risks officers take on behalf of the public and guarantee inflation-proof pay rises each year and set out how they will be supported.

Ms McVey said the Conservatives have always been the party of law and order and believes the Covenant would go a long way in showing how much the country values the work they do and the risks they take to keep our streets safe.

National chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales John Apter said the Covenant was 'an important step' towards achieving 'further guarantees and protections for our dedicated officers'.

He said: “I welcome this support and would add my voice to seek a commitment from both prime minister candidates to support a policing covenant.

“Our members face unprecedented times with fewer police numbers, increased demand including rising violent crime, and reduced capacity to deal with those crimes. This has exacted a huge toll on officer welfare.

“It’s time to seek further guarantees and protections for our dedicated officers and we see a Police Covenant as an important step in achieving this.”

Ms McVey is urging both leadership contenders, Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to commit to the Covenant and put it on the statute books once one of them becomes the Prime Minister

The move would promise police officers the same level of support and recognition already guaranteed to military personnel in the Armed Forces Covenant.

Ms McVey said: “I’ve been calling for a Police Covenant for weeks which would sit alongside the one the Conservative Party brought in for the Armed Forces, and I’m delighted that the Police Federation has backed the idea."

“I look forward to working with the next Prime Minister to bring it into force swiftly.

“The Police Covenant will show our commitment and gratitude to the police for what they do and it will support them once they have left the service.”