Federation seeks 8.5 per cent pay rise for Scottish officers

The Federation published its pay claim on Friday (March 31), comparing officers with other public services, such as nurses and teachers, who have found themselves in dispute with the Government over the past year.

The SPF has also requested that future pay for police is linked to an average pay index from April 1, 2024, as opposed to annual negotiations, along with a commitment by senior officials to consider compensation for officers due to “special features” of the job, such as not having the right to strike, having to be available year round, the unusual stress of the job and the risk of injury.

David Kennedy, SPF’s new general secretary, said: “Police officers cannot take any form of industrial action and we have seen other groups of workers achieve better pay rises and offers following strike action or threats of strike action.

“All we have ever asked for is a fair pay-negotiating mechanism and fair pay. All we are asking for this year is the average of what other workers have achieved.

“We calculate that police pay has fallen 15 per cent behind inflation since 2006, which was the first year since 1980 that our pay was not linked to an average index.

“We also think that the value which used to be attached to the special features of our job, around ten per cent has been completely eradicated.

“Looking at the pay deals that have been agreed for other occupations from a 2021/22 baseline, (for 2022/23 and 2023/24) we note that the fire service has been awarded 12.35 per cent, teachers have been awarded 12.35 per cent and nurses have been awarded 14.49 per cent.”

A SPA spokesman said: “Police officer pay for 2023/24 will be negotiated through the Police Negotiating Board, which consists of representatives from the staff side and official side including the Authority, Police Scotland and the Scottish government.”

A Scottish government spokesman said: “The Scottish government is grateful to our policeofficers and staff who provide a vital service every day to ensure we continue to have a safe, protected and resilient Scotland.

“Policing is and will continue to be a priority for this Government. Scotland has more police officers per capita than England and Wales and our officers have significantly higher pay ranges with a starting salary for a constable in Scotland around £5,000 more than in England and Wales.

“Police officer pay has been negotiated for many years through the Police Negotiating Board (PNB), which includes Police Officer Staff Associations, the Scottish Police Authority, Police Scotland, and the Scottish Government.

“The PNB process is ongoing in relation to pay for 2023/24 it is therefore not appropriate for us to comment as due process needs to be followed.”