The Scottish executive has announced a 17 per cent increase in police funding over the next three years.

The move will lead to a police budget north of the border of £1.1 billion by 2007/08.

Following publication of the report from the police working group, ministers also said the way funding is distributed is to be changed.

The new formula seeks to ensure allocations are more closely related to local policing needs.

In future a range of additional factors such as local crime, deprivation and population, will be taken into account - unlike the current incremental system which was less responsive to changes in local circumstances.

Justice minister Cathy Jamieson said: "The executive is committed to investing in and strengthening our police forces to help create safer, stronger communities throughout Scotland.

"The substantial increases I have announced highlight the importance which the executive attaches to preventing and tackling crime, and supporting the police in their on-going efforts to protect the law-abiding many from the law-breaking few.

"As part of our commitment to making communities safer, we also need to recognise that each police force area is different and has different needs."

Chief Constable Willie Rae of the Association of Chief Police Officers in Scotland welcomed the announcement.

"This will allow the Scottish police service to provide what we need to carry out our business efficiently for the next three years," he said.

"This funding will help us to maintain frontline policing numbers at their current record high and continue to provide a first class service to our communities."

However shadow justice minister Kenny MacAskill branded the announcement on police spending as "lies, damned lies and statistics".

The SNP spokesman labelled the spending boost a "standstill budget which will not deliver more bobbies on the beat".

"It is not a good deal for police forces and it certainly isn’t a good deal for the public," he said.

"People want and need more bobbies on the beat and I doubt this announcement can deliver that.

"Scotland needs and expects much more and instead of more lies, damned lies and statistics which will not improve police services in Scotland, it is time that the executive put more bobbies on the beat."