POLICE in the county have branded the Government's latest pay offer "a slap in the face".

The police force says talks over officers' pay have broken down after the rejection of a 2.325 per cent increase - which is below the rate of inflation.

Ian Poiton, chairman of the Kent Police Federation, said: "This offer is an insult not just to police officers in Kent but to every police officer in the country.

"It is a massive slap in the face to be offered such a derisory pay rise, a rise that is in real terms a pay cut.

"A fight for fair pay is not a fight we should be facing at this time."

The offer is based on recommendations issued after a review by Sir Clive Booth.