A 4.75% pay deal for police officers in Scotland, for 2024/25, has been confirmed.
The pay deal was confirmed following the outcome of a formal arbitration process. An independent arbitrator, appointed by the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS), considered written and verbal evidence from the Official Side and Staff Side on 6 February 2025.
Following detailed consideration of the evidence the independent arbitrator has confirmed the award of 4.75% to pay and relevant allowances for all police officers. This will be backdated to 1 April 2024. Officers can expect to receive the 4.75% pay award in their March salary.
Fiona McQueen, Interim Chair of the Scottish Police Authority and Chair of the Official Side of the Police Negotiating Board said:
“In a challenging financial climate this outcome ensures important recognition of the valuable contribution our police officers make. I want to thank those officers and their staff association representatives for their continued commitment and patience during these negotiations and the arbitration process.”
Deputy Chief Constable Alan Speirs said:
“Police officers deliver significant service and value for our communities. I am hugely grateful for their skill, dedication and goodwill and it is important officers are rewarded and recognised.”
Justice Secretary Angela Constance added:
“Police officers do an outstanding job in challenging circumstances and I am grateful to them for all they do to keep communities safe.
“I welcome the outcome of the arbitration process, which means that police officers in Scotland will receive an uplift of 4.75%, backdated to 1 April 2024, in their March salaries. This recognises the hard work and valuable contribution that police officers make, and reflects this Government’s continued commitment to investing in policing.
“Police officers in Scotland have consistently been the highest paid in the UK at the minimum and maximum of each rank.”
Timeline
The Official Side of the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland made a formal offer of 4.75% to police officers and police staff on 21 October 2024.
The Staff Side, representing police officers, formally rejected the offer in October, submitting a counter proposal for 5.5%.
Police staff formally accepted the 4.75% offer on 6 January 2025, following a ballot of trade union members. Police staff will receive their pay award, backdated to April 2024 in their February salary.
Following a period of conciliation where an agreement could not be reached, the formal arbitration hearing was held on 6 February 2025 and the outcome communicated on 14 February 2025.
Background
The full details of the agreement are detailed in a PNBS Circular which will be published on the PNBS section of the Scottish Government website in the coming days.
