Short-Notice
Shift Changes
A definitive guide to Regulation 22, operational necessity, notice requirements, and compensation for sudden changes to your duty roster.
Notice: Independent explanatory guidance based on Police Regulations 2003. Not legal advice.
Executive Summary
Police forces can change your shift at short notice for operational necessity.
- Hours: Increases often trigger overtime.
- Rest: 11-hour rule protected by fatigue rules.
- Status: Orders must be based on necessity.
- Entitlements: Compensation triggers vary by change.
The Direct Answer
Yes. A force can change your shift at short notice if operational necessity exists.
- If your total hours increase → overtime applies
- If your rest period drops below 11 hours → fatigue protections apply
- If the change is arbitrary → it may be challengeable
Police officers must obey lawful orders — but lawful orders must be based on genuine operational grounds.
The Legal Foundation
Shift management sits under a combination of statutory police regulations and broader health and safety laws.
Key Legal Frameworks:
- Police Regulations 2003
- Regulation 22 (Rosters)
- Annex V (Variable Duty)
- Working Time Regulations 1998
Regulation 22 requires rosters to be published at least one month in advance. While this provides predictability, the regulations allow variation for operational necessity.
What Is “Operational Necessity”?
Operational necessity is the threshold for making short-notice changes to a published roster.
It does NOT mean management preference, trialling new ideas without notice, general convenience, or predictable staffing gaps. A change must be capable of being defended as an operational requirement.
Types of Short-Notice Changes
1. Start Time Moved
Example: Shift 07:00–15:00 becomes 14:00–22:00.
If total hours remain 8, usually no overtime is triggered. However, if notice is extremely short and causes significant hardship, a welfare discussion with supervision is required.
2. Shift Extension (Casual Overtime)
Example: At 15:45 you are told to remain until 19:00.
Entitlement: This is overtime. Typically paid at 1.33x or 1.5x. The 'first 30 minutes' rule may apply depending on your force agreement.
3. Double-Back Risk
If your shift is moved and you now have less than 11 hours rest before next duty.
Working Time Regulations may be breached. Fatigue in policing is a critical health & safety issue. The force must mitigate this risk.
The 11-Hour Rest Rule
Under Working Time Regulations, officers should receive 11 consecutive hours of rest between shifts. This is a safety provision, not an optional extra.
If a change breaches this limit:
- The force must justify high operational necessity
- Alternative compensatory rest should be arranged
- A fatigue risk assessment must occur for driving/safety tasks
Chronic breach of the 11-hour rule represents a systemic organizational risk.
When You Can Push Back
Officers have a duty to obey a lawful order, but the order must be reasonable. You can raise valid concerns regarding:
If complying with an order you believe is improper, state clearly that you are “complying under protest” and document the interaction immediately.
Compensation Summary
Overtime Triggered
Payment at standard reg rates for the additional time worked.
No Extra Pay
If the block of 8 hours just starts later/earlier, usually no automatic payment.
Different Rules
Requires specific compensation under Annex U. Read Rest Day Guide.
Real-World Scenarios
The Protest Pivot
Start time moved to cover a public order incident. Lawful. Operational necessity is clear.
The Sickness Gap
Being told to stay on due to a late sickness call. Lawful extension. Overtime applies.
Arbitrary Adjustment
Moving a whole team's start time by an hour "just because." Potentially challengeable. No operational driver exists.
What Police Cannot Do
- X Use short-notice routinely instead of publishing proper Regulation 22 rosters.
- X Ignore fatigue risks and the 11-hour consecutive rest requirement.
- X Deny legitimate overtime claims for shift extensions.
- X Target the same officers repeatedly for disruption.
Common Questions
Can police change my shift at short notice in the UK?
Yes, police forces can change your shift at short notice if operational necessity exists. However, compensation, overtime, and welfare protections apply. Officers must usually obey lawful orders, but these must be based on genuine operational grounds.
What is the 11-hour rest rule for police officers?
Under Working Time Regulations, officers should receive 11 consecutive hours of rest between shifts. If a short-notice change breaches this, the force must justify operational necessity, arrange alternative rest, and conduct a fatigue risk assessment.
Am I entitled to overtime for a shift extension?
Yes. If your shift is extended (e.g., being told at the end of a shift to remain on duty), this is casual overtime and entitles you to payment (typically at 1.33x or 1.5x), subject to local 'free' periods.
Can I refuse a short-notice shift change?
Police officers have a duty to obey lawful orders. However, you can raise concerns regarding fatigue, medical issues, approved flexible working agreements, or caring responsibilities. If you comply but dispute it, state you are 'complying under protest'.