Police Scotland could lose a third of its leaders due to changes to pensions

ASPS members unanimously supported the decision, and the organization insists they could lose thousands of pounds as a result of the changes.

President Rob Hay said: “This is an unprecedented step, but we clearly speak as a united voice.

READ MORE: Watchdog warns there is “still a lot of work to be done” in Police Scotland.

“The service relies on the goodwill of our members and this is clearly being lost. As the vote showed, they are furious about this.

“There is a real risk that a large part of them will vote with their feet.

“Our members over 50 and over 25 who want to avoid having to pay further interest on their pensions can and will retire.

“The fact that this represents almost a third of all superintendents and chief superintendents serving today should be enough to galvanize the service, government and police into action.”

He continued: “That’s an incredible amount of experience and talent that could just walk out the door. What a terrible shame to force these proud police officers to retire from service because of a financial decision and the basic principle of honesty.

“Whoever forms the next government at Westminster must take this matter extremely seriously.”

Public sector pension reforms have led to police officers moving to the Career Average Revalued Earning (Care) scheme, paying lower contributions.

A 2018 Court of Appeal ruling, known as the McCloud ruling, found that some officers were discriminated against on the basis of age and were offered an amount called a superannuation benefit.

However, to access the pension benefit, officers had to pay in additional money, which they would have had to pay under the old scheme.

ASPS says exact figures are not available, but someone who was superintendent between 2015 and 2022 would have paid around £9,000.

Hay said senior officers were being charged interest on this amount, as directed by the Treasury.

Hay added that Police Scotland, the SPA, SPPA (Scottish Public Pensions Agency) and the Scottish Government “all point to the blame lying elsewhere – ultimately with HM Treasury and, by extension, the UK Government.”

Hay said: “This is all deeply unfair to our colleagues and we will continue to fight for it, regardless of who is in power after July 4.”

The Scottish Government, SPA, Police Scotland and the Treasury have been contacted for comment.