Police Negotiating Board for Scotland: annual report 2025

Chair’s foreword

Welcome to the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland (PNBS) 2025 Report.

It was an eventful and productive year - both challenging and rewarding.

Despite considerable efforts by both the Staff Side and Official Side to reach an agreement, 2024 ended without a pay deal for 2024/25, and we began the year with the challenge of arbitration. Although demanding, the process ultimately secured a 4.75% pay increase, awarded retrospectively to officers in March.

Rather than just moving on, following the conclusion of the 2024/25 pay decision, the PNBS spent time reflecting. Through individual and group discussions, members shared their perspectives and learnings and collectively committed to a better way of working. Changes were implemented for the 2025/26 pay negotiations through significant effort by both Sides.

I am delighted and grateful to report that a pay deal was agreed in August for 2025/26 as well as 2026/27, following a Staff Side claim in April. In addition to a relatively short period for negotiations, the pay uplift was implemented quickly, thanks to the effort of the Technical Working Group (TWG) and Scottish Government. The TWG also drafted additional Family Friendly provisions which the Sides agreed on.

We were pleased to receive Fraser of Allander’s (FAI) stage 1 research into police officer pay and benefits (FAI stage 1 report) in the first quarter. We continued to engage regularly with FAI during the second phase of the research, due in early 2026.

This year has been very positive, and my sincere thanks go to the members of both the Staff and Official Sides for being so open and making such efforts to improve our ways of working and I congratulate them on the success of the 2025/26 and 2026/27 pay agreement. I am continually grateful to Scott McNeil, PNBS Secretariat for his exceptional skills and expertise, and all his support for me and the Board.

Lisa Blackett, Independent Chair

Police Negotiating Board for Scotland

March 2026