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A 7% pay rise for police officers will be implemented, despite the PSNI facing financial problems, the chief constable has promised.

It would cost the organisation around £20m to implement.

The increase has already been made by forces in England and Wales, following a recommendation by the UK's independent pay review body.

Mr Boutcher told the Policing Board: "We have to find out how we pay it, not that we are not going to pay it."

He added: "If I have to step into a position where I am breaching my accounting officer responsibilities and the board and the Department of Justice decide they will have to sanction me, then we will get into that territory if we need to."

The PSNI is currently facing end-of-year deficit of £52m.

It is understood that money to fund the pay award is included in that projection.

Mr Boutcher is lobbying "anybody and everybody" for more money.

His remarks were welcomed by the DUP.

Assembly member Trevor Clarke, who sits on the board, said: ''Police officers in Northern Ireland put themselves in harm's way every day to serve our communities and keep people safe.

"The very least they deserve is a fair pay award."

Mr Clarke accused the government of ignoring the PSNI's financial woes.

"The budget imposed by the secretary of state was callous, irresponsible and the catalyst for many of the pressures now facing operational policing."

Mr Boutcher told the meeting more officers were leaving the organisation than "ordinarily" and blamed pay issues.

"If we don't pay these officers, we go to unacceptable numbers more quickly."

The PSNI has warned that unless funding arrangements change, it could reduce to 5,954 officers by March 2025.

Currently it has 6,523 officers.

It receives around £800m annually from the Department of Justice out of the Northern Ireland block grant.