Scottish Police Federation warns action will ‘escalate’ if pay offer not improved

The SPF unanimously rejected a 3.4 per cent pay rise proposal on Wednesday (July 20) after it said the deal “continues to fail to recognise the unique role of the police offer and is significantly lower than offered in other sectors”.

And it warned: “Unless a further improved offer is received by Friday August 5 that the actions of our members in response to this continued dispute will escalate.”

Police officers cannot strike, but the 17,500 members of the SPF withdrew “all goodwill” after a “derisory and insulting” pay offer of £565 which “must have been known to be so prior to being presented”.

It has meant since the start of this month rank-and-file officers have, among other things, refused to start shifts early or take radio equipment home when their shift ends.

The warning from the federation on Wednesday could mean that next month officers go further in these actions.

A SPF spokesperson said: “Police officers should not be in a position where government values police offers less than other sectors and workers.

“The unique role of the police officer should always be reflected in any pay offer. This revised offer, like its predecessor, fails to do so.”

Police pay is negotiated through the Police Negotiating Board (PNB), which includes police officer staff associations, the Scottish Police Authority, Police Scotland and the Scottish government.

In the latest deal rejected by the SPF, all pay points for all ranks would see their salaries rise by 3.4 per cent, backdated to April 1.

Allowances would also rise by the same amount, the official side of the PNB said, and added in its letter to the staff side negotiators: “Since the original offer made in May was rejected by the staff side, our focus has remained on trying to reach an agreement within the PNB.

“Consequently, significant efforts have been made to explore ways we might be able to make an improved and affordable offer that appropriately recognises the important and valuable contribution police officers play within society.

“This has been challenging in the current financial context but we understood the need to do more if we were to reach an agreement on pay and conditions for 2022.”

On Tuesday (July 19), officers south of the border were offered a five per cent pay rise after the Home Office said it accepted recommendations from the independent police pay review body in full.

Calum Steele, general secretary of the SPF, said the pay deal agreed by Home Secretary Priti Patel was “highly significant” in the ongoing dispute.

He said it was “notable that at every stage of their pay process, all key employer representatives, from the Home Office itself, through to chief constables, advocated for a higher award than the initial starting position of the Scottish official side of the PNB”.

A Police Scotland spokesman said it was “monitoring the situation in relation to the withdrawal of goodwill” and would “put arrangements in place to ensure any impact on the public is kept to an absolute minimum”.

“We recognise the considerable goodwill officers bring to their roles on a daily basis as they keep people safe across the country, and this is also valued by the communities they serve,” the spokesman said.

“We therefore remain committed, through the PNB, to seeking a settlement.”