Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has suggested Police Scotland’s overdraft might have to be extended to ensure officers continue to be paid next year.
Mr Yousaf said the Scottish Government would have to lend cash to the force after he was told that wages would run out in February.
At a Scottish Police Federation (SPF) fringe event at the SNP conference, SPF General Secretary Calum Steele warned that Police Scotland risked losing 1,000 officers next year.
He also claimed budget pressures meant the force “is going to run out of money and is not going to be able to pay wages in February”.
Mr Yousaf said Mr Steele’s claim was “outrageous” – and said he was prepared to bet his resignation as Justice Secretary to demonstrate his confidence that police would receive their wages.
“Let’s make a bet, shall we? Shall we make a bet that if police officers’ wages aren’t paid in February – should one of us resign? If they are paid then you should resign,” Mr Yousaf challenged Mr Steele.
When explaining where the money for wages would come from, Mr Yousaf said one option would be to extend Police Scotland’s £70 million deficit.
The Justice Secretary said the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) had a plan to reduce the deficit to zero.
Given the challenges posed by Brexit, Mr Yousaf added: “It is clear that that deficit plan has to be revised.”
