Cash-strapped Police Scotland has spent more than £700,000 in legal fees over the past five years defending compensation claims brought by officers and staff at employment tribunals. New figures released under Freedom of Information show that £215,138 was paid in fees last year to law firms, the highest annual amount in five years and an increase from the previous year's spend of £180,362.
Total Spending and Cases
Overall, Police Scotland has spent £715,760 defending 130 employment tribunal cases since 2021, covering claims including discrimination, unfair dismissal, and harassment. The largest recipients of legal fees were Clyde and Co (£222,140), Morton Fraser (£182,630), and Ledingham Chalmers (£171,590).
Union Criticism
David Kennedy, General Secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, blamed the force for not resolving complaints early, allowing them to escalate. He said: "We have spoken to Police Scotland on several occasions to say that these issues could be resolved through mediation at an early stage but they are choosing not to mediate and going to a full tribunal. It is having a negative impact on police officers and a negative impact on the public purse."
Kennedy added that the grievance process takes up to nine months, and that early apologies could settle many disputes. He stated: "The vast majority of these cases do not settle for a lot of money. Instead the people who make the money are the solicitors and the lawyers. They can be settled early and they can be resolved at an early point. If the service is not prepared to do that then all it is going to do is create an expense at the other end."
Notable Tribunal Cases
Last year, Constable Denise Gemmell received more than £43,000 compensation after a tribunal ruled she had been victimised over a health condition that made her unable to work in cold weather. The following month, a tribunal ruled Police Scotland discriminated against PCs Steven Jones and Greg Tunnock because of their sex. Their authorisation to carry firearms was pulled after posing for a photograph with singer Tallia Storm, which appeared on TikTok in March 2024. They won a combined payout of almost £50,000. In 2022, the force paid out £940,000 to former firearms officer Rhona Malone after a tribunal found she had been discriminated against after complaining about a sexist email.
Police Scotland Response
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We always ensure the highest quality of legal service at the best value for the public purse. The organisation has introduced learning processes in order to support the understanding of managers of how they can support their people and ensure that all opportunities are taken to resolve matters in advance of escalation."
In March, the Daily Record revealed that Police Scotland has paid more than £8 million in the previous 10 years in compensation to staff. The force has previously said they are facing a severe funding crisis, with an estimated cash shortfall of more than £48 million for the 2026/27 financial year.
