Chief Constable treating officers ‘with contempt’, says police federation leader

Scotland’s top police officer has been accused of treating officers “with contempt” amid the lack of any pay offer this year.

Scottish Police Federation (SPF) general secretary David Kennedy criticised Chief Constable Jo Farrell, and the Scottish Government and the Scottish Police Authority (SPA), over the pace of negotiations.

The SPF, which represents more than 16,500 rank and file officers, asked for a 5.7% pay rise in May but is yet to receive an offer for its members.

Mr Kennedy said the organisation is now considering its “next course of action”.

He told justice magazine 1919: “We are the backbone of the public sector.

“We pick up everything else that others don’t do, and we continue to do so.

“What is keeping the police service afloat isn’t policy or procedure.

“What’s keeping it afloat are the people who work for the service – the cops – yet they’re being treated with total contempt.

“We demand to be treated fairly, and to be treated with the respect that our members who are hard-working police officers deserve.

“We will now be looking at what we can legally do within the regulations and that will be the next course of action that we will take.”

Police officers cannot go on strike in Scotland but they can withdraw “goodwill”, which is essentially working to rule.

It could involve them refusing to work extra shifts or take on unpaid responsibilities.

Last year, the SPF agreed to a 7% pay rise following what Mr Kennedy described as “frustrating negotiations”.

The lengthy dispute also led the two sides to agree to an independent review of police pay and benefits.

Scottish Conservative MSP Sharon Dowey said years of “brutal cuts” from the Scottish Government had “left hard-working police officers doing their job with one hand tied behind their back”.

She added: “If SNP ministers took a common sense approach for once, then, they would know officers feel undervalued and overworked thanks to their cuts.

“Those cuts have left officer numbers at their lowest since they came to power in 2007, yet the SNP’s eyes have been off the ball during these pay negotiations.

“Officers’ goodwill is being pushed to its limit. The SNP’s justice secretary must urgently accelerate these discussions, properly fund our police and ensure public safety is not compromised.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The pay claim for police officers is being progressed through the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, as is normal practice.

“We note that Mr Kennedy said earlier this month (September) that the claim is progressing in a positive manner.”

A spokesperson for the Scottish Police Authority said: “The authority and Police Scotland are working hard, through the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, to agree an affordable pay award for Scotland’s officers. Discussions remain ongoing.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson added: “Discussions between the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland and relevant staff associations are continuing.”