Scottish PCs enjoy higher pay levels

Published on 04/02/2013 00:00

POLICE believe a constable working in Scotland could earn almost half a million pounds more over the course of their career, than an equivalent officer in England and Wales.

The Scottish Police Federation said they would be £21,730 better off in ten years alone, after which the gulf in salaries would grow. The calculation is based on officers remaining at constable rank throughout a 42-year career.

Calum Steele, general secretary of the SPF, said: “I can advise with some degree of certainty that a new police officer starting in service in England and Wales, from the 1st April, 2013, onwards will, on the pay scales as they are now and proposed, be between just over £19,000 and £21,730 worse off than a police officer in Scotland.”

He added: “Things have not been made better in Scotland, they’ve been made worse in England and Wales.”

The SNP highlighted the different approaches of the two governments to policing.

“While the Tories believe that cutting police numbers and cutting police pay will lead to an improved service, Scottish officers are being shielded from these dreadful across-the-board cuts south of the border,” Sandra White MSP said.