Police staff across Scotland are to be balloted on a pay offer with a recommendation to reject it, a union has announced.

Unison said the Scottish Police Authority’s (SPA) offer of a 4.75% rise on pay and allowances “falls short” of this year’s pay claim.

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Unison Scotland police staff branch secretary David Malcolm said: “Police staff play a vital role in keeping communities safe across the country.

“The justice system simply couldn’t function without the essential work of employees in control rooms, forensic laboratories and custody suites.

“When Police Scotland was established a decade ago, there were promises that savings would be pumped back into the service.

“But all that’s happened since then is a reduction in police numbers and cuts in police staff pay.

“At the same time spending on consultancy firms such as Price Waterhouse Cooper and Deloitte has gone through the roof.

“Police staff belonging to Unison are recommended to reject this offer and show they’re prepared to take industrial action to bring the SPA back to the table with an improved offer.”

The ballot will run from Today until November 1.

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A spokesperson for the SPA said: “The 4.75% offer to police staff members covers those earning £28,296 and above.

“Police staff members earning up to £28,296 are offered a £1,344 uplift.

“The two lowest pay points would be removed from April 1 2024, meaning the lowest salary point would be £26,031, equating to an hourly rate of £14.26.

“The 4.75% uplift offer also applies to a range of allowances for officers and staff, while on-call allowances would increase to £32 from April 1 2024 with a further increase to £35 from January 1 2025.

“The offer continues policing in Scotland’s commitment to no compulsory redundancies.

“The offers are above inflation and higher than any pay increase agreed within the Scottish public sector, excluding the NHS.”