Zarah ChoudharyStaff working across policing in Scotland have agreed to a minimum 4.75% increase in pay, backdated to 1st April 2024, for the 2024-25 deal.
Staff on pay grades three, two, and one will receive increases ranging from 5% to 16.34%.
The offer also includes increases to call-out and standby rates, alongside a commitment to review and improve current working practices regarding the application and approval of annual leave entitlement.
In addition, the agreement reaffirms the continued commitment to no compulsory redundancies, in line with Scottish Government policy.
This award was the highest pay increase offered in the Scottish public sector, excluding the NHS, and was more than twice as high as the inflation rate based on consumer price inflation (CPI) at April 2024.
Police staff will receive the pay award and the backdated allocation in their February 2025 salary.
Negotiations regarding a pay award for police officers are currently undergoing an arbitration process, which is expected to conclude in February.
The pay changes, effective from April 1, 2024, include adjustments to Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3 pay scales.
For Grade 1, the number of increments will be reduced, creating a two-point pay scale with the first scale point set at £27,373 and the second at £28,057.
For Grade 2, the number of increments will also be reduced, creating a three-point scale with the first scale point at £28,197, the second at £28,902, and the third at £29,625.
Grade 3 will see a minimum uplift ranging from £1,415 to £1,524, with the first scale point set at £29,711 and the fourth scale point reaching £32,000.
For grades above Grade 3, a 4.75% increase will be applied to all pay grades and points, with an additional £76 added to SCP 13.
The agreement also included several terms and conditions adjustments, including that the call-out/standby rate will rise to £35 from 1st April 2024.
A 4.75% increase will apply to various allowances, including disruption, overnight disruption, additional disruption, minimum standards, unsocial hours payment, and dog handler allowance.
Additionally, a settlement will be made with the joint trade unions to buy out all staff time off in lieu (TOIL) in excess of 35 hours, with the details and approach to be agreed through collective agreement.
The agreement proposes providing call-out payments to accredited trade union representatives who are called out outside of normal working hours for Post Incident Procedures, aligning this provision with those receiving call-out payments who are not on a contractual standby roster.
The agreement also reiterated the commitment to no compulsory redundancies and introduced plans to jointly consider the reintroduction of the Distant Islands Allowance and the potential increase of annual leave entitlement for staff.
Additionally, there is a commitment to jointly work towards enhanced family-friendly and equality provisions, with a target of reaching an agreement by 31st December 2025.
These provisions will focus on, but are not limited to: maternity/adoption provisions, fostering and kinship care provisions, disability leave, neonatal pay and leave, miscarriage pay and leave, carer’s leave, ante-natal appointments for partners, and fertility treatment leave for partners.
Martyn Evans, chair of the Scottish Police Authority, said: “Police staff play a vital role supporting policing in Scotland, and I am pleased we have been able to reach an agreement on pay that recognises their valuable contribution.
“I am grateful to the trade unions for their constructive dialogue.”
Chief Constable Jo Farrell said: “Police staff provide crucial support to officers to deliver our vital public service, and I’m hugely grateful for the dedication, professionalism, and goodwill our people demonstrate every day. It is right police staff are fairly recognised and rewarded.”
