Listen
Police pay award
06/12/2007
Scotland's police officers are to receive a 2.5 per cent increase in their pay with immediate effect.
Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill today announced that he had approved the increase in full, backdated to September 1 this year.
The decision follows a recommendation from the Police Arbitration Tribunal last week following the breakdown of police pay negotiations earlier in the year.
Mr MacAskill said:
"Scotland's police officers have a vital role to play in protecting our communities and tackling crime and the fear of crime.
"Already this Government is supporting the police service with an additional £54 million to deliver 500 new recruits, improve the retention of skilled and experienced officers and support the redeployment of officers to strengthen community policing.
"Police officers have to do a difficult job, often in challenging circumstances. We want to ensure that they are paid appropriately for the job they do. I believe that we are well served by our police officers and I want to acknowledge the contribution they make day in and day out making our communities safer and stronger.
"The Scottish Government believes that the recommendation made by the Tribunal is a fair and affordable one. That is why we have decided to implement it in full with immediate effect.
Joe Grant, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, said:
"I would like to congratulate the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Justice on their independent stance on this important issue. "This decision reflects the co-operative and constructive approach towards policing that the Scottish Government has demonstrated since coming into office."
Arrangements for police pay in England and Wales are a matter for the Home Office.