“Winsor won’t happen here,” Scots officers told

“WINSOR was wrong, Winsor was insulting, Winsor won’t happen here under this Government’s tenure,” police officers in Scotland have been told.

Kenny MacAskill, justice secretary, (pictured) told the Scottish Police Federation conference, that the Scottish Government will not bring in the hugely unpopular Winsor pay and conditions reforms.

Starting salaries, increment pay and competency related threshold payments have been protected north of the border.

Mr MacAskill said: “This Scottish Government will not now – or ever – implement Winsor. We only need to look south of the border to see why. Police commissioners imposed. Police pay cut. Fast track promotion but police numbers plummeting.”

To loud applause from Scottish police officers, he added: “Winsor was wrong. Winsor was insulting. Winsor won’t happen here under my, or this government’s, tenure.”

Mr MacAskill described policing as “a job like no other”, and added that as officers cannot withdraw their labour or take industrial action “there has to be some give to compensate those rights not being there.”

He told the Scottish Police Federation conference that he would bring forward plans to create a Scottish Police Negotiating Board and that any arbitration on pay would be “legally binding on the government I serve and any future administrations”.

He said: “A deal is a deal. When police officers forsake the right to strike they must be given something in return.”

Mr MacAskill, who was warmly applauded throughout his speech, said that he would be happy to sign off a 1 per cent pay rise for police officers north or the border – matching that given to officers in England and Wales from this September. He also apologised that there was not more he could do on their pensions.

Brian Docherty, Chairman of the Scottish Police Federation, used his speech to remind Mr MacAskill of why it is important that police officers receive fair pay and conditions.

He said: “Police officers are unique, they are special. Without them there would be no Police Service of Scotland. The arrangement is as simple as it always has been. If you look after them, they will look after you.

“If you create the environment where they are properly trained, properly equipped and properly compensated in pay and pensions, they will provide a service second to none.”