Scotland's police union says officers to take action over pay dispute

The Scottish Police Federation said on Wednesday its members would take action including not working longer than their scheduled shift time as part of an ongoing pay dispute. The union, which represents more than 18,000 members and 98 percent of all police officers in Scotland, said it had issued a "formal withdrawal of goodwill" notice that would take effect from 1800 GMT on July 1.

A letter from the organisation's general secretary Calum Steele, addressed to Scotland's Chief Constable Iain Livingstone, said the decision was a "manifestation of the strength of feeling of our members of the utter contempt this pay offer represents." "It will not be lost on you that this is the most significant discontent in the police service since the 1970s, and the most overt demonstration of action by our members in over 100 years," Steele wrote.

"Further actions to safeguard our members health and safety, and to mitigate the effects of the cost of living crisis on them will follow over subsequent weeks." The union said that as police officers in Scotland are prohibited by law from striking, their action would instead include officers not starting shifts early or finishing them beyond the rostered time, unless expressly directed.

They will also refuse to take any police protective equipment or devices such as airwave radios home after their shift.

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