Police say pay cap axe could cost 600 officers
SCRAPPING the public sector pay cap could lead to the loss of hundreds of police officers, the Scottish force have warned.
Police Scotland said raising salaries by two per cent would require additional savings of almost £26million – the equivalent of 600 officers.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon confirmed this month the one per cent cap on public sector pay rises will be removed next year.
A report to the Scottish Police Authority says: “A further £25.8million of savings would be the equivalent of reducing the police officer establishment by an additional 600 officers, or the equivalent of reducing police staff numbers by a further 850 over the next three years.”
It adds: “It is currently assumed that the impact of this policy change leading to any increase above the existing one per cent pay constraint would be funded. However, there has been no commitment from Scottish Government to do this.”
A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: “Public sector workers in Scotland and across the UK deserve a fair deal and we will deliver a pay policy that is affordable and recognises real-life circumstances.
“However, to ensure we can really improve both pay and public services, it is time for the UK Government to end austerity and invest properly in public services and those who work in them.”