The festive season is upon us and while most people will be winding down for a well-earned break, policing is gearing up for one of the busiest times of the year.
2024 has been a difficult time for policing in Scotland and these challenges have been keenly felt by our Superintendents and Chief Superintendents.
As the centenary year of ASPS draws to a close, we have seen numbers of police officers drop to the lowest point in 14 years and numbers of senior officers drop to the lowest level in living memory.
In addition, the voluntary and early redundancy of police staff colleagues has often left demand and line management responsibilities with senior management teams comprising of those same officers.
The Chief’s laudable aims to reduce demand caused by Mental Health and from the creaking Criminal Justice system have yet to resolve into any meaningful results. The goodwill of officers is constantly tested to keep on-call rosters afloat. The scale of the demand has become exceptional.
With such exceptional demands you would be forgiven for thinking exceptional recognition would follow. Instead, Police Scotland have found themselves in a pay dispute, with a “full and final offer” being made in October, some 7 months after implementation was due. Despite the rhetoric, this offer would equate to the lowest increase in take home pay in UK policing. With the no improvement being offered, arbitration now beckons.
I hope colleagues are soon in possession of the pay award they deserve, but in terms of Scottish Government priorities, it seems policing is on the naughty list.
Despite this, the commitment and professionalism of our members and the wider police family remains a force to be reckoned with. Whether operational or organisational, time and again colleagues have risen to face this year’s challenges with skill and determination.
Our ability to come together and support each other in the face of such challenge remains our enduring quality. It will be needed next year, as it is every year, but together we will be equal to anything 2025 has to throw at us.
Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a peaceful New Year.
