Police Scotland
Part-Time Working
What Police Scotland offers on part-time and flexible working, how part-time pay is calculated under the PNBS formula, worked pay and pension examples, family leave, career breaks and the honest answer on training and probation.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 22 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
Yes: Police Scotland lists flexible working "including part-time working and full-time compressed hours". Part-time pay uses the PNBS hourly rate of annual pay x 6/12,520, which is £16.29 an hour at the £34,001 starting salary. Police Scotland does not publish whether new officers can work part-time during the 18 weeks of training or the two-year probation, so ask before you apply.
Part-time and flexible working at a glance
- Offered: part-time working and full-time compressed hours.
- Part-time pay: an hourly rate of annual pay x 6 / 12,520 under the PNBS handbook.
- Full-time basis: the formula equates to 40 hours a week over 52 1/6 weeks.
- Career breaks: unpaid, up to five years.
- Family leave: 26 weeks' enhanced maternity and adoption pay from 1 April 2026; 18 weeks' unpaid parental leave per child under 18; shared parental leave in the first year.
- Not published: whether any of this is available during initial training or probation.
What Police Scotland offers
Police Scotland's rewards and benefits page lists flexible working options "including part-time working and full-time compressed hours". Its police officer page adds family leave and career breaks. Together:
| Option | What Police Scotland lists | Paid? |
|---|---|---|
| Part-time working | Listed as a flexible working option | Yes, at the part-time hourly rate |
| Full-time compressed hours | Listed as a flexible working option | Full-time hours, so full-time pay (our reading) |
| Career break | Up to five years | Unpaid |
| Parental leave | 18 weeks per child under 18 (statutory parental leave) | Unpaid |
| Shared parental leave | For the first year | See the scheme rules |
| Enhanced maternity and adoption pay | 26 weeks from 1 April 2026 (was 18) | Yes, enhanced |
Police Scotland does not publish how flexible working requests are made, how long a decision takes or how often requests are approved. Those details usually sit in internal policy, which we have not seen.
The honest answer on training and probation
This is the question most applicants with caring responsibilities actually want answered. Police Scotland's recruitment pages do not answer it. They do not say whether part-time working or compressed hours are available:
- during the 18 weeks of initial training (1 week regional, 15 at Tulliallan or East Kilbride, 2 regional);
- during the two-year probation, most of which is spent in response policing.
What we can say from the published facts: Police Scotland asks applicants to think about whether the 24/7 shift pattern fits their circumstances before applying. It also says the probationary period "requires full focus and dedication to training and operational duties". In 2024 it started a non-residential training course at Jackton in East Kilbride, "recognising the barriers to a residential training programme". None of that tells you whether part-time probation is possible.
If you can only work part-time, ask Police Scotland's recruitment team or at a recruitment event before you start the application. Police Scotland says its process is "different for each person", so get the answer for your situation in writing if you can.
How part-time pay is worked out
The PNBS handbook (section 2.11) gives the formula for a part-time constable's hourly rate:
Hourly rate = annual pay x 6 / 12,520
12,520 divided by 6 is 2086.67 hours a year. Spread over 52 1/6 weeks (the handbook's own weekly divisor) that is exactly 40 hours a week, so the formula treats a full-time officer as working 40 hours a week. Here is the hourly rate at points on the 2026 constable scale:
| Pay point | Full-time annual pay (1 April 2026) | Hourly rate (annual x 6 / 12,520) |
|---|---|---|
| On appointment | £34,001 | £16.29 |
| Point 1 | £36,995 | £17.73 |
| Point 2 | £39,988 | £19.16 |
| Point 5 | £45,064 | £21.60 |
| Point 8 | £48,940 | £23.45 |
| Point 11 | £54,597 | £26.16 |
Pro rata pay: worked examples
To turn the hourly rate into an annual figure, multiply by your weekly hours and by 52 1/6 weeks. This is our arithmetic, assuming you are paid for contracted hours at the handbook rate; check your own contract and payslip. At the starting salary (£34,001):
| Weekly hours | Share of 40 hours | Annual pay at £34,001 rate | Estimated take-home a year | Estimated take-home a month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | 50% | £17,000.50 | £13,918 | £1,160 |
| 24 | 60% | £20,400.60 | £16,012 | £1,334 |
| 30 | 75% | £25,500.75 | £19,125 | £1,594 |
| 32 | 80% | £27,200.80 | £20,163 | £1,680 |
| 40 (full-time) | 100% | £34,001.00 | £24,313 | £2,026 |
The take-home estimates use our pay engine: Scottish income tax with the standard Personal Allowance, National Insurance and the 13.7% pension contribution, before any other deductions. Because tax and National Insurance have thresholds, take-home falls by less than gross pay when hours drop: at 30 hours you keep a larger share of each pound than at 40.
At the top of the scale
The same arithmetic at the top constable point (£54,597, hourly £26.16):
| Weekly hours | Annual pay (our arithmetic) |
|---|---|
| 24 | £32,758.20 |
| 30 | £40,947.75 |
| 32 | £43,677.60 |
Moving up the scale works the same way for part-time officers as full-time: the hourly rate follows the annual salary for your pay point. How part-time service counts towards incremental progression is not covered in our sources, so check it with Police Scotland.
Annual pay by weekly hours
The same arithmetic across a wider range of hours and three pay points. Each figure is the hourly rate x weekly hours x 52 1/6 weeks, which is the same as the full-time salary x hours / 40.
| Weekly hours | On appointment (£34,001) | Point 2 (£39,988) | Point 11 (£54,597) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | £13,600 | £15,995 | £21,839 |
| 20 | £17,000 | £19,994 | £27,299 |
| 24 | £20,401 | £23,993 | £32,758 |
| 28 | £23,801 | £27,992 | £38,218 |
| 30 | £25,501 | £29,991 | £40,948 |
| 32 | £27,201 | £31,990 | £43,678 |
| 36 | £30,601 | £35,989 | £49,137 |
Weekly and monthly at the starting rate
| Weekly hours | Gross a week | Gross a month |
|---|---|---|
| 20 | £325.89 | £1,416.71 |
| 24 | £391.07 | £1,700.05 |
| 30 | £488.83 | £2,125.06 |
| 32 | £521.42 | £2,266.73 |
These are gross figures. For take-home, see the estimates in the previous table or put the annual figure into the Police Scotland salary calculator.
Full-time compressed hours
Compressed hours means working your full-time hours over fewer, longer days. Police Scotland lists "full-time compressed hours" as a separate option from part-time working. Because the hours stay full-time, pay stays full-time (our reading of the term; Police Scotland does not publish compressed-hours pay rules).
Police Scotland does not publish which compressed patterns are used or in which roles. Response policing already runs on shifts, so how a compressed pattern fits alongside a 24/7 rota is something to discuss with your division, not something we can tell you.
Part-time work and your pension
You join the Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015, a career average scheme. Each year builds 1/56.1 of that year's pensionable pay, revalued while you are a member, payable from age 60. Your contribution is a flat 13.7%. Working part-time means lower pay, so lower contributions and less pension built that year:
| Weekly hours | Annual pay (our arithmetic) | Pension contribution (13.7%) | Pension built in a year (1/56.1) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | £20,400.60 | £2,795 | £363.65 |
| 30 | £25,500.75 | £3,494 | £454.56 |
| 40 (full-time) | £34,001.00 | £4,658 | £606.08 |
Because it is career average, a part-time year only affects that year's slice of pension. Returning to full-time later builds full slices again. These are one-year illustrations before revaluation, not a forecast. Note that England and Wales pension calculators use 1/55.3, which does not apply to Scottish service.
Worked example: five part-time years in a ten-year career
Because the scheme is career average, part-time years reduce only their own slices. To show the size of the effect, here are two ten-year patterns on the 2026 scale. We assume the pay point still moves up each year while part-time, which Police Scotland does not publish. We also leave out revaluation and future pay awards. Treat this as an illustration of scale, not a forecast.
| Pattern over the first 10 years | Pension built (a year, from 60) | Difference |
|---|---|---|
| Full-time throughout | £7,783 | |
| Years 3 to 7 at 24 hours, otherwise full-time | £6,233 | £1,550 a year less |
Five years at 24 hours (60% of full-time) reduces the pension built over the decade by the amount shown, payable for life from 60. Revaluation at prices plus 1.25% a year would make both figures larger by retirement.
Maternity, adoption and parental leave
Family leave is one of the main reasons officers ask for flexible working later. What our sources say:
| Leave | What our sources say | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Enhanced maternity and adoption pay | Rose from 18 to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026. The deal also gives an option to take weeks 21 to 31 at half pay plus half SMP; check the PNBS handbook wording for how this works | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
| Parental leave | 18 weeks per child under 18, unpaid | Police Scotland officer page |
| Shared parental leave | Available for the first year | Police Scotland officer page |
| Career break | Unpaid, up to five years | Police Scotland officer and rewards pages |
The move to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026 is Scotland-specific, under the 2025 to 2027 pay deal. Guides and calculators written for England and Wales will not reflect it. Our police maternity pay guide explains the general structure; for Scotland, check the PNBS handbook for the exact rules.
Career breaks
Police Scotland lists unpaid career breaks of up to five years. It does not publish on its recruitment pages when you become eligible (for example, whether you must have completed probation), how a break affects your pay point on return or how it affects your pension. Those are questions for later in your career, but if you already know you may need a break in your first few years, ask before you apply.
The 24/7 shift pattern
Police Scotland asks applicants to think about whether the 24/7 shift pattern fits their circumstances before they apply. Most of probation is spent in response policing, which runs around the clock. Police Scotland does not publish the shift patterns used in each division.
If you have children or caring responsibilities, plan for the full-time 24/7 pattern as your starting point and treat anything more flexible as a bonus you have confirmed, not an assumption. Our general childcare and shift work guide and shift work survival guide have practical ideas; they are written for the UK as a whole.
If you need a particular kind of flexibility
| If you need... | What the published sources say | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Fewer hours from day one | Part-time is offered, but not stated for training or probation | Ask the recruitment team before applying |
| Fewer, longer days | Full-time compressed hours are offered | Ask how compressed patterns fit response shifts in your division |
| To be home every night during training | A non-residential course started at Jackton in 2024 (2026 position not stated) | Ask whether your intake has non-residential places |
| Time off to have a baby | Enhanced maternity and adoption pay of 26 weeks from 1 April 2026 | Check the PNBS handbook rules once you join |
| Time with an older child | 18 weeks' unpaid parental leave per child under 18 | Plan it as unpaid time |
| A long break | Unpaid career breaks of up to five years | Ask about eligibility and the effect on pay and pension |
| A second job alongside fewer hours | Business interests must be declared; constables need consent | Declare it and ask before you take it on |
Flexible working money: Scotland vs England and Wales
England and Wales details come from our shared pay engine and audited pages, not from Police Scotland.
| Police Scotland | England and Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| Pension build-up (2015 scheme) | 1/56.1 of pensionable pay | 1/55.3 |
| Member contribution | A flat 13.7% at any pay level | Tiered 12.88%, 13.88% or 14.22% by pay |
| Enhanced maternity pay | 26 weeks from 1 April 2026 | Not covered here; see our maternity guide |
| Part-time hourly formula | Annual pay x 6 / 12,520 | Not covered here |
Planning your application around flexibility
Our suggestions, not official guidance:
- Ask first. Before you spend months preparing, ask the recruitment team whether the working pattern you need is possible during training and probation.
- Ask about Jackton. If a residential course is the problem, ask whether the non-residential training at Jackton is still running and how places are allocated.
- Budget on full-time pay and full-time hours. Then work out what a part-time pattern would do to your money using the tables above, in case you move to it later.
- Use your posting preferences. A shorter journey makes shifts far easier to manage. See divisions and postings.
- Line up childcare cover for nights and weekends before you start, not during training.
Questions to ask the recruitment team
- Can I work part-time or compressed hours during initial training?
- Can I work part-time during probation? If so, does probation take longer?
- Is the non-residential course at Jackton still running for my intake?
- How do part-time officers move up the pay scale?
- How are annual leave and public holidays worked out for part-time officers?
- When do officers become eligible for a career break?
- Who decides a flexible working request? How long does it take?
Write the answers down with the date and who gave them. Police Scotland says its process is different for each person, so an answer for your situation is worth more than a general rule.
Myths and facts about flexible working
| You may have read | What the published sources say |
|---|---|
| Police officers cannot work part-time | Police Scotland lists part-time working and full-time compressed hours as flexible working options |
| Part-time officers pay a lower pension rate | The 2015 Scottish scheme has a flat 13.7% at every pay level |
| Maternity pay is 18 weeks | Enhanced maternity and adoption pay rose from 18 to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026 |
| Parental leave is paid | The 18 weeks per child under 18 is unpaid statutory parental leave |
| All training is residential | A non-residential course started at Jackton in July 2024 (2026 position not stated) |
| Career breaks are paid | Career breaks are unpaid, up to five years |
Each line is checked against a primary source in our facts file. Where Police Scotland does not publish something, the table says so rather than filling the gap.
What we could not verify
- Whether part-time or compressed hours are available during initial training or probation.
- How flexible working requests are made, decided and how long they take.
- How annual leave and public holidays are worked out for part-time officers in Scotland.
- How overtime works for part-time officers in Scotland.
- How part-time service counts towards moving up the pay scale.
- When officers become eligible for a career break and how a break affects pay and pension.
- The exact handbook wording of the enhanced maternity and adoption pay option for weeks 21 to 31.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you work part-time in Police Scotland?
Yes. Police Scotland lists flexible working options "including part-time working and full-time compressed hours" among its rewards and benefits.
Can I join Police Scotland as a part-time new officer?
Police Scotland's recruitment pages do not say whether part-time or compressed hours are available during the 18 weeks of initial training or the two-year probation. Ask the recruitment team before you apply if you need it.
How is part-time police pay worked out in Scotland?
The PNBS handbook gives a part-time constable's hourly rate as annual pay multiplied by 6 and divided by 12,520. At the £34,001 starting salary that is £16.29 an hour. Multiplying by your weekly hours and 52 1/6 weeks gives an annual figure (our arithmetic).
How much would a 30-hour Police Scotland officer earn?
On our arithmetic, at the starting rate: £16.29 an hour x 30 hours x 52 1/6 weeks = £25,500.75 a year, which is 75% of the full-time salary.
What are full-time compressed hours?
Working full-time hours over fewer, longer days. Police Scotland lists it as a flexible working option separately from part-time working. It does not publish the patterns used.
Does part-time work affect my police pension?
The 2015 Scottish scheme is career average, so each year builds 1/56.1 of that year's pensionable pay. Lower pay builds less pension that year. Your contribution is 13.7% of what you earn.
How long is maternity pay in Police Scotland?
Enhanced maternity and adoption pay rose from 18 to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026, under PNBS Circular 2025/09. Check the PNBS handbook for the exact rules.
Does Police Scotland offer career breaks?
Yes. Police Scotland lists unpaid career breaks of up to five years.
How much parental leave do Police Scotland officers get?
Police Scotland lists parental leave of 18 weeks per child under 18. This is the unpaid statutory parental leave. Shared parental leave is also available for the first year.
What hours does a full-time Police Scotland officer work?
The PNBS hourly formula divides annual pay by 12,520/6, which is about 2,087 hours a year, or 40 hours a week over 52 1/6 weeks. Police Scotland asks applicants to consider whether its 24/7 shift pattern fits their circumstances.
How much would a 24-hour week pay at the top of the Police Scotland scale?
On our arithmetic, £26.16 an hour x 24 hours x 52 1/6 weeks = £32,758 a year, which is 60% of £54,597.
Does the pension contribution rate change if I go part-time?
No. The Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) 2015 has a flat 13.7% contribution at every pay level since 1 April 2025, so the rate stays the same; only the amount falls with your pay.
Is parental leave paid in Police Scotland?
Police Scotland lists parental leave of 18 weeks per child under 18 as unpaid statutory parental leave. Enhanced maternity and adoption pay is separate and rose to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026.
Should I tell Police Scotland I want part-time hours when I apply?
Police Scotland does not publish where in the application to raise it. The best route is to ask the recruitment team or at a recruitment event before you apply, so you know where you stand before you invest months in preparation.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 22 October 2026. Rules and figures change, so check the source for the date you are reading this. Where we could not confirm something from an official or independent source, the page says so rather than guessing. Spotted something out of date? See our corrections policy.
- Police Scotland: Rewards and benefits : flexible working "including part-time working and full-time compressed hours"; career breaks; pension (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Apply to become a police officer : parental leave 18 weeks per child under 18; shared parental leave for the first year; unpaid career breaks up to five years; 18-week initial training; 2-year probation (accessed 22 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook : pay calculations (section 2.11): part-time constable hourly rate = annual pay x 6/12520; weekly pay = annual / 52 1/6 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- PNBS Circular 2026/01, Federated Ranks Pay : constable pay points from 1 April 2026 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- PNBS Circular 2025/09, Pay Agreement 2025-26 and 2026-27 : enhanced maternity and adoption pay from 18 to 26 weeks from 1 April 2026 (accessed 22 October 2026)
- SPPA: How your police pension works : career average 2015 scheme; flat 13.7% contribution; 1/56.1 accrual (accessed 22 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Scottish Income Tax : Scottish income tax bands used in the take-home estimates (accessed 22 October 2026)
- Police Scotland: Our recruitment process (police officer) : the process is different for each person; contact the recruitment team (accessed 22 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
More in this guide series
More for applicants and Scottish officers
Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority or the College of Policing. It does not recruit, test or assess applicants. Our practice questions are original PolicePay material, not official Police Scotland questions. Police Scotland sets and changes its own selection process, so check its recruitment pages and your candidate account before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 22 October 2026.