Police officers in Scotland will see their pay rise by more than inflation under a new two-year deal agreed through the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland.

From April 2025, officers will receive a 4% increase, followed by a further 3.5% rise from April 2026. The same uplift applies to allowances, with commitments in place to ensure pay remains at least one percentage point above the annual Consumer Price Index. The agreement is designed to protect earnings against the cost of living while offering officers financial stability through to 2027.

The package also includes wider benefits. On call allowances will rise to £36.40 in 2025 and £43.68 in 2026, maternity and adoption pay will extend to 26 weeks full pay from April 2026, and officers will see improved mileage rates, overnight disruption payments for international deployments and new rest day mileage entitlements.

Fiona McQueen, Chair of the Scottish Police Authority, welcomed the settlement, saying it “recognises the valuable role officers play in keeping Scotland safe and secure and offers a degree of financial stability over the next two years.”

“I want to thank police officers for the hard work and skill they demonstrate every day to deliver for our communities. I’m grateful to the Staff Side of the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation and everyone involved in reaching this agreement.”

Chief Constable, Jo Farrell.

The deal was formally accepted by the staff side of the negotiating board on 18 August. A similar offer is now being put to police staff trade union members through a consultative ballot.

This follows a recent pay settlement in England and Wales, where officers up to chief superintendent rank will receive a 4.2% rise from September 2025, as recommended by the Police Remuneration Review Body.

Full details of the Scottish agreement have been shared in a Joint Central Committee circular published by the Scottish Police Federation and will be published shortly on the Scottish Government’s website.

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