Claire Baker MSP has raised concerns in the Scottish Parliament about low police morale in Fife.

She quizzed justice secretary Michael Matheson after a whistleblower spoke out about conditions facing officers.

There were reports that morale was "dreadful" and the number of staff who could respond to incidents had been "decimated".

Ms Baker also raised concerns that the force, who admitted their current budget was "challenging", came close to not being able to pay salaries in recent months.

The Mid Scotland and Fife Labour MSP said: "The attitude so far to concerns that have been raised has not been good enough.

"Does the cabinet secretary recognise serving officers’ claims?

"Those officers are dedicated to the force but are working in increasingly difficult circumstances.

"How will the Government respond to the continuing concerns over the police budget?"

Mr Matheson responded: "Let me deal with the salary issue. Police Scotland’s response to the issue was very clear when it stated that the claims are 'untrue'.

"That is pretty unequivocal.

"On the morale issue, the member will be aware that Police Scotland conducted its first staff survey in order to establish a baseline for a range of concerns, including how the service responds to issues that serving officers raise, and to look at how it could improve on that.

"The Scottish Police Authority stated that it would take forward an action plan to address such issues where it saw that there was room for further improvement. Over the next two years, the SPA, along with Police Scotland, will take that work forward."

He added: "I do not dispute the fact that some officers might not be happy with how things are going in the area in which they operate. "That would be the case in any big organisation of any nature and particularly in an organisation that has undergone significant change, as has happened with the Police Service of Scotland.

"Equally, I can assure the member that Police Scotland and the SPA are committed to addressing issues as and when they are raised."

Ms Baker later told the Times: “Police Scotland’s role must be to keep the public and our local communities safe.

“However, what we are seeing is story after story that local policing is struggling due to budget pressures.

“Many communities are raising concerns of increasing anti-social behaviour. From dangerous driving of quad-bikes and motorised scooters to trouble in our streets.

“The Scottish Government must ensure that Police Scotland is fully resourced to tackle the issues we are facing in Fife.

“Failure to do so risks morale amongst officers dropping even lower.”