Moved to Nights
Permanently?
Can you be forced to work permanent nights? Understanding Regulation 22, fatigue risk management, and your rights when shift patterns change.
Authority: Analysis of duty assignments under Regulation 22 and Working Time Regulations.
Executive Summary
Yes — police forces can move you onto nights, even permanently, provided they follow appropriate regulatory steps.
- Rationale: There must be an operational necessity for the move.
- Working Time: Rest periods and health assessments must be considered.
- Welfare: Fatigue risk must be managed under Health & Safety law.
- Equality: Protection exists for parents, carers, and those with medical conditions.
Can You Be Forced Onto Nights?
A Chief Officer can assign you to night shifts if operational necessity requires it. There is no automatic right to remain on a day-only shift pattern.
Nights are a duty requirement, not a protected preference.
Forces can create dedicated night teams as part of their LPM.
In many forces, "Night Teams" or "Twilight Shift" models are becoming standard to meet peak demand times. Legally, provided the force gives appropriate notice and manages welfare, they have broad powers to set the roster.
Regulation 22 & Roster Control
Shift patterns are governed by Regulation 22 and Annex V (Variable Shift Arrangements). The rules are strict:
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Notice Periods
Rosters must be published one month in advance. Moving you to nights "tomorrow" requires specific overtime or notice compensation.
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Structure & Predictability
Rosters must be structured and not arbitrary. However, permanent night teams satisfy this requirement.
Fatigue & Working Time
While police officers can "opt out" of certain parts of the Working Time Regulations (WTR), key protections remain mandatory.
11 Hours Rest
You are entitled to 11 hours rest between shifts. Moving between days and nights must not breach this minimum rest period.
Night Worker Assessment
Permanent night workers are entitled to regular health assessments to monitor the long-term impact on cardiovascular and mental health.
Equality Considerations
Night work disproportionately affects certain groups. Under the Equality Act 2010, forces must consider:
- Parents with specific childcare responsibilities.
- Carers for elderly or disabled relatives.
- Officers with medical conditions exacerbated by night work (e.g., diabetes, epilepsy, chronic insomnia).
Forces must conduct risk assessments and consider "Reasonable Adjustments" for these officers. Moving a carer to permanent nights without assessment could be discriminatory.
What They CAN Do
- Assign you to a permanent night-only team.
- Rotate your whole team onto a night-heavy roster.
- Require overtime on nights for major events or staffing crises.
What They CANNOT Do
- Ignore formal medical restrictions from Occ Health.
- Breach the minimum 11-hour rest requirements.
- Assign nights as a retaliatory tool or informal punishment.
Real-World Scenarios
The Operational Necessity
The force is suffering from a critical shortage of night cover on response. An officer is reassigned to the permanent night team to meet demand.
The Informal Punishment
Following a minor complaint that didn't reach misconduct, an officer is moved from days to nights without a formal hearing or rationale.
The Medical Oversight
An officer with diagnosed chronic insomnia is moved to a permanent night rotation without an Occupational Health assessment.
Health & Fatigue Risks
Chronic sleep deficit increases error rates & reaction times.
Increased risk of cardiovascular issues due to circadian disruption.
Higher incidence of depression and anxiety among night workers.
Significant strain on family life and social connections.
Forces must conduct regular health assessments and risk reviews for all "Night Workers."
Common Questions
Can police force you onto nights?
Yes. If there is an operational justification, a police force can move you onto night shifts. Night duty is an assignment of rank and role, not a protected preference.
Can nights be permanent?
Yes. Police forces can create dedicated permanent night teams for response, investigations, or public order. These are lawful duty assignments.
Is there extra pay for nights?
Sometimes. Depending on the force and the specific role, night duty allowances or shift payments may apply. However, there is no universal 'double pay' rule for nights in standard police regulations.
Can I challenge moving to nights?
You can challenge a move to nights if it is discriminatory (e.g., affecting childcare or medical conditions) or if it creates an unmanaged fatigue/safety risk. Otherwise, it is a lawful order that must be obeyed.
Is this misconduct?
No. Shift assignment is a matter of management control and operational necessity. It is not a disciplinary matter unless used improperly as an informal punishment.
Independent regulation-based guidance. Night shift arrangements and permanent team structures are subject to local force policy and Annex V of the Police Regulations. This guide does not constitute legal advice. If you have concerns about the health impact of your roster, you should seek an Occupational Health referral or consult your local Police Federation branch.