Recall From
Annual Leave
A definitive guide to Regulation 33, operational necessity, compensation triggers, and your rights when your holiday is interrupted.
Notice: Independent explanatory guidance based on Police Regulations 2003. Not legal advice.
Executive Summary
Police officers can be recalled from annual leave for operational necessity, but specific statutory protections apply.
- Compensation: Minimum 4 hours payment applies.
- Leave Status: Interrupted days must be reallocated.
- Duty Time: Travel to/from recall counts as duty.
- Threshold: “Exigency of duty” must be genuine.
Can Police Recall You From Leave?
Yes. A police force has the legal authority to recall you from annual leave under Regulation 33 of the Police Regulations 2003. However, this is not a casual power; it is reserved for operational necessity or an exigency of duty.
If recalled, you are entitled to compensation (usually a minimum 4 hours at double time or time-and-a-half, plus travel), and your leave day is restored to your balance. The force cannot simply "subtract" the holiday day if you were forced to work it.
Section 1: What Exactly Counts as Recall?
A Legitimate Recall
Recall applies only after your leave has already commenced. If you have finished your last shift before holiday and your "off-duty" time has begun, you are effectively in a leave period.
What It Is Not
Recall is different from cancelling leave before it starts (where notice is given in advance) or moving a rest day (governed by Annex U). The compensation structures for "pre-cancellation" are often less generous than for mid-leave recall.
The Legal Foundation
Regulation 33 & Annex O
Police annual leave is not a "discretionary benefit" but a statutory entitlement governed by the Police Regulations 2003. Specifically:
- Regulation 33: Establishes the right to annual leave.
- Annex O: Details the durations and notice requirements.
- The Determination: Grants the Chief Officer the power to require an officer to return to duty, provided it is justified by "exigency of duty".
Defining Operational Necessity
Valid Recall Reasons
- Major Incidents: Terrorist events, natural disasters, or large-scale disorder.
- Critical Shortages: Unforeseen, massive spikes in demand that threaten public safety.
- Time-Sensitive Ops: Targeted intelligence leads requiring a specific specialist officer.
Questionable Grounds
- Poor Planning: Recalling an officer because a roster was mismanaged or a routine event was overlooked.
- Routine Staffing: Standard sickness gaps that should be covered by casual overtime or shift variations.
- Administrative Ease: Non-urgent tasks that can wait until the officer returns from leave.
Section 2: Compensation & Entitlements
Compensation for recall is structured to recognise the significant disruption to an officer's private life. Unlike standard overtime, recall triggers specific minimum payment protections.
| Catgeory | Entitlement |
|---|---|
| Minimum Period | Usually 4 hours (check force-specific determinations). |
| Payment Rate | Appropriate overtime rate (typically double time or 1.5x plus restoration). |
| Travel Time | Counts as duty time to AND from the stations/post. |
| Leave Balance | Full restoration of the annual leave day(s) impacted. |
| Expenses | Reimbursement of unavoidable financial losses (travel, bookings). |
Real-World Scenarios
The Unexpected Riot
An officer is on day 3 of a 7-day holiday in Cornwall. Major disorder breaks out in their home city. The force activates a mass recall of all available personnel.
The Sickness Gap
An officer is on leave. The Sergeant calls because two team members called in sick and there is no one else to cover the van.
The Overseas Holiday
An officer is in Thailand. The force issues a recall for an operation. The officer explains they have no flight for 5 days.
What Forces Cannot Do
- They cannot use recall to compensate for persistent, predictable poor planning.
- They cannot refuse to restore the annual leave day back to your balance.
- They cannot refuse reimbursement for unavoidable financial losses (e.g., cancelled flights).
- They cannot disregard your right to a fatigue risk assessment if the recall creates dangerous hours.
Fatigue & Welfare
Recalling an officer from their period of rest and recovery is a serious welfare intervention. Disruption to "time off" is a primary driver of burnout and retention issues in UK policing.
Retention Alert: Patterns of repeated recall are often used by staff associations to evidence systematic failures in force resource management.
Common Questions
Can police recall you from annual leave in the UK?
Yes. Under Police Regulations 2003, a Chief Officer may recall an officer from annual leave for operational necessity. However, strict compensation and leave reinstatement rules apply.
How much do you get paid if recalled from leave?
Typically, you are entitled to a minimum of 4 hours' pay at the applicable overtime rate, even if the actual work performed takes less time. Travel time to and from duty is also counted as duty time.
Do you lose the annual leave day if recalled?
No. The annual leave day must be reinstated to your balance or reallocated. A recall does not 'consume' the leave entitlement if it is interrupted for operational reasons.
Can police recall you if you are abroad?
Legally, yes, but practicality and reasonableness apply. Forces must consider travel safety, excessive personal cost, and the proportionality of the recall against the operational need.
This guide is maintained for informational purposes based on Police Regulations 2003 and Home Office Circulars. Forces may have local variations in how compensation is processed. Always consult your local Police Federation representative for individual legal or conduct advice.