POLICE officers are resorting to foodbanks after having their pay squeezed over the last decade, the head of Britain’s biggest force said yesterday.

Met Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said he was concerned that growing numbers of officers were struggling to make ends meet.

He said while police have no wish to strike, they were “frustrated” at the way their living standards have been eroded in recent years.

“I am concerned about the cumulative effect of challenging pay over many years,” Sir Mark told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme. 

“I think front-line officers have lost about 14 per cent in real terms over a decade. I have seen data about police officers using foodbanks, which is really concerning. 

“I’ve got tens of thousands of men and women who really care about London and they are so committed to the mission of helping people and taking on dangerous offenders.

“I need to do everything possible to set them up to succeed. Part of that is them feeling they can make ends meet. All the data says some of them are finding that hard.”

It is illegal for police to strike in the UK.