Time to move forward from pay dispute, Constance tells police officers

Justice Secretary Angela Constance has told the Scottish Police Federation (SPF) conference there is a need to “move on” and “put frustrations of the past behind us” after a pay dispute with the force had to be settled by arbitration.

Ms Constance accepted the negotiations – which led to a withdrawal of goodwill by Police Scotland officers – had been “challenging”.

The SPF, which represents rank-and-file police officers, is holding its annual conference at the Trump Turnberry Hotel in South Ayrshire.

Ms Constance was replying to an address by SPF chairman David Threadgold, in which he condemned Scottish Government decisions and told the SNP politician: “Your Government should be ashamed.”

Mr Threadgold told Ms Constance: “This process of negotiation was an incredibly frustrating, one-sided, and ultimately unsuccessful one which, in our view, has damaged the relationship between police officers, their chief constable and your Government, all of whom find it so easy to talk about the value of, and the priority placed on, policing and police officers in this country.”

I am keen we move forward and we can only do that by working together. We need to put frustrations of the past behind us

He received widespread applause when he added: “Without multi-year budget settlements, the ability to carry forward unspent revenue into the next financial year or the ability to address this chronic lack of capital budget, we simply cannot deliver policing in this country to a standard which we can all be proud.”

He also warned “policing deserts” are taking hold across parts of Scotland due to chronic underinvestment, and that this continued squeeze on Police Scotland’s resources is leading to officers exiting the force.

Conciliation service Acas confirmed a 4.75% pay offer on February 14 following arbitration, but the SPF had called for a 5.5% counter offer.

Ms Constance told the conference: “I agree negotiations this year have been challenging, I too am disappointed we could not reach a collective decision.”

She said she “wanted to ensure pay is affordable and fair” amid financial constraints.

Ms Constance said: “Public sector pay is the biggest cost for the Scottish Government. We are clear the results of arbitration are effectively binding. Public sector pay is not a competition or a test of which workforce is the best or favoured the most.

“I am keen we move forward and we can only do that by working together. We need to put frustrations of the past behind us.”

Ms Constance said she had “absolutely no objections” to arbitration findings being made public, and is waiting for the findings of independent research into “police officer pay and benefits” and whether they reflect the role.

She said: “As you will know the majority of our funding is controlled by the UK Government. Recent changes to employers’ national insurance payments made by the current UK Government impacts on all public bodies. We have committed to funding 60% in 2025-26.

“The Finance Secretary has repeatedly called for these costs to be fully funded by the UK Government. We have kept higher officer numbers than elsewhere in the UK. It is a fact of which we should be proud.”

In a wide-ranging speech, she also addressed the forthcoming Police (Ethics Conduct and Scrutiny) (Scotland) Act which requires a new statutory code of ethics, as well as the pressures of dealing with mental health crises.

She said the legislation “provides a framework to improve culture and behaviour at all levels within policing”.

Ms Constance said: “When things go wrong, we need robust mechanisms for investigating misconduct. I want to prevent problems from arising. I know you will say ‘Cabinet Secretary you are not reading the room’, but there are other voices and other rooms.

“We must also ensure there are safeguards to protect rights of officers.”

The Justice Secretary said she wants “to see a meaningful difference on the ground for you and everyone on the front line”.

She said violent crime “fell by 58% between 2008-09 and 2021-2022, but the landscape of crime is not static”.

She said Police Scotland’s control centre had diverted more than 10,600 calls to NHS 24’s mental health hub, “freeing up more than 54,000 officer hours”.

Ms Constance said: “While some may think otherwise, I do recognise the role of police officer has never been more challenging.

“I do not share David’s (Threadgold) pessimism on challenges of recruitment; policing continues to attract a strong field of applicants.

“The one thing I think we can all agree on is that Scotland is home to one of best police forces in the world.”

Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Liam Kerr said: “SNP ministers must accept that policing our communities cannot simply be reliant on the goodwill of officers.

“They should show some common sense by finally providing Police Scotland with the funding they need to keep communities safe.”