Minister vows no wage cut for new police

JUSTICE Secretary Kenny MacAskill has pledged that the starting salary for police constables in Scotland will not be cut, even though new recruits in England will see their pay slashed by £4000.

He spoke out after Home Secretary Theresa May announced she would press ahead with the wage cut to £19,000, as recommended by police watchdog Tom Winsor last year.

Mr MacAskill said: “We will not impose changes to the terms and conditions of our hard-working, dedicated officers. Starting salaries for our police constables in Scotland will stay the same. We will not implement the Winsor package north of the Border and we will protect this vital service from Westminster cuts.”

He said public confidence in the police was at a “historic high”, while recorded crime was at its lowest level for 37 years.