A meeting of Strathclyde Police’s governing body will this week hear that the force faces a deficit of up to £200m between next year and 2014, with fears that the present record numbers of 8000-plus officers may no longer be sustainable and have to be reduced.

Pressures stemming from the pledged increase in officer numbers have been cited as a factor, making it inevitable that other forces across Scotland will soon begin flagging up their own financial predicaments.

Strathclyde Police Authority, which sets and monitors the force finances, has said the police service is not immune to the significant pressures on the public purse, and the budget required to police adequately the Strathclyde area “is significant and faces unprecedented challenges in the coming years”.

The deficit is also put in the context of a change to how police forces are funded, the end to ring-fencing, and how police finances are now part of the wider local government settlement, as well as the funding for additional officers.

For the next financial year, Strathclyde faces a deficit of up to £35m, rising to some £66m in 2013/2014, largely as a result of staffing costs,

pay awards and general inflationary increases.

It has also raised the spectre of a reduction in police numbers, with the authority stating that as 92% of the police budget relates to personnel costs “it is inevitable that there will be some impact on personnel resources”.

Although the Scottish Government yesterday reaffirmed its position of record investment in policing, the umbrella organisation for Scotland’s police chiefs, police authorities and ministers has been meeting “to discuss matters of mutual concern”.

The Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland has stated that “clearly, finance in the current climate is one of these matters”.

Opposition politicians have also tried to lay the blame at the door of Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, claiming that while the Scottish Government’s commitment to putting 1000 additional officers on the street was laudable, it has not been sustained with the appropriate financial support.

Strathclyde Police Authority convener Paul Rooney said: “This report sets out in the bluntest terms the dire financial situation faced by the police service in the coming years.

“Over the last two years, Strathclyde has made significant efficiency savings, diverting every available penny of our budget to ensure record numbers of police officers are out on our streets. For the first time ever, Strathclyde has more than 8000 police officers and we are 100% committed to retaining this number in the coming years.

“Unfortunately, the Police Authority has some very difficult decisions to make in terms of how we plug this massive funding gap. Even if tougher efficiency savings are considered, the gap remains significant.”

The report before the authority on Thursday adds: “Given the current financial climate and uncertainty surrounding Government settlements, it is not anticipated that the predicted deficit in 2010/11 is a one-off event and that the Police Authority will face similar situations over the next three to five years.”

Labour’s justice spokesman Richard Baker said the last thing Scotland wanted was police commitments being scaled down and it was up to Mr MacAskill to indicate what the government planned to do about the situation.

Questioning the timing of the announcement, he said he believed it was born out of frustration on the part of Strathclyde with increasing demands by the government.

He said: “These must be sustained by the right level of financial support. Strathclyde has done all expected of it by the SNP administration in terms of police numbers and more, but is now in a dreadful situation and much of the work is under threat. The Scottish Government is accountable here.”

LibDem justice spokesman Robert Brown MSP said: “The SNP need to reassure the public that community safety won’t be jeopardised by this black hole in police funds. The Justice Secretary must meet police chiefs urgently to make sure that key promises, for instance boosting police recruitment, will go ahead.”

Mr MacAskill defended his record on policing. He said: “Scotland’s recorded crime rate is at its lowest for 25 years and we are investing a record £23bn [2008-2010] to ensure local authorities have the resources they need to deliver local services.

“In addition, we are centrally funding 1000 additional officers to join the ranks of Scotland’s police forces during the lifetime of this parliament. As a result, police numbers are at a record high, over 17,000, and we expect them to keep rising.

“We’ve also funded police wage rises in recognition of the valuable service they provide, and have met the pensions requirements of our forces, following the pensions deficit we inherited from the last government. We are fully committed to delivering a more visible policing presence, which deters crime, reassures our citizens and keeps our communities safer.”