Acting Up & Temporary
Promotion Pay (UK Police)
Do police officers get paid more when acting up?
Yes — but only after a qualifying
period and under specific conditions set out in Police Regulations
2003.
Trust Notice: Independent explanatory guidance based on Police Regulations 2003 (as amended). Not affiliated with any police force or staff association.
Executive Summary
How Acting Up Pay Works
- Acting up does not automatically mean higher pay
- A qualifying period normally applies before pay change
- Payment usually matches the minimum of the higher rank
- Overtime and pension calculations may be impacted
- Acting up is operational. Temporary promotion is financial.
Short acting periods focus on service needs. Sustained acting triggers financial recognition.
What Does “Acting Up” Mean?
Acting up refers to performing the duties of a higher rank temporarily. This is usually required to cover gaps such as:
Common examples include a Constable acting as a Sergeant, or a Sergeant acting as an Inspector. It is important to distinguish between purely operational responsibility and formal temporary promotion.
When Does Pay Increase?
Under Police Regulations, an officer generally becomes entitled to higher pay if they perform the duties of a higher rank for a continuous qualifying period.
- The duties must be formally recognised and authorised.
- Short, occasional acting periods (under the threshold) do not trigger pay uplift.
- Entitlement is usually not backdated until the threshold is passed.
The Qualifying Period Explained
The 28-Day Rule
In many cases, an officer must perform higher duties for 28 cumulative days within a rolling 12-month period before the allowance is paid. Once this threshold is reached, subsequent days in the same 12-month period are typically paid from day one.
Continuous Service
Significant breaks in performing the higher duties may "reset the clock" depending on force-specific administrative rules and local policy. The qualifying period is designed to reward sustained responsibility.
What Pay Do You Receive?
When temporary promotion or acting pay applies, you are typically paid at the minimum pay point of the higher rank. It is rarely a direct step-up to your current incremental equivalent.
Overtime While Acting Up
Entitlement to overtime is rank-dependent. Acting up into a higher rank can fundamentally change how (or if) you are paid for extra hours.
Eligible Ranks
Constables and Sergeants are eligible for overtime. If acting up into these ranks, you remain eligible for overtime based on the higher rank's rates.
Ineligible Ranks
Inspectors and above are generally ineligible for overtime. Acting up as an Inspector typically means losing your right to claim overtime pay.
Pension Impact
Temporary promotion pay and acting up allowances are pensionable. However, the impact varies significantly between the legacy and CARE pension schemes.
2015/CARE Scheme
Since your pension accumulates based on your actual earnings each year, any period of higher pay during acting up will slightly increase your total pension accrual for that year.
Legacy Schemes
A short period of acting up is unlikely to change your "final salary" for legacy scheme purposes unless the acting role is sustained through the final year of service.
Acting Up vs Temporary Promotion
| Feature | Acting Up | Temporary Promotion |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | Operational cover & responsibility. | Formal rank uplift & financial adjustment. |
| Pay Trigger | Usually 28+ days threshold. | Often immediate upon formal appointment. |
| Duration | Short-term / Variable. | Linked to promotion process or long-term vacancy. |
Not all acting up is temporary promotion. One is about duties; the other is about status.
How Long Can You Act Up?
While there is no fixed universal limit for how long an officer can act up, most forces aim to keep these periods as short as possible. Extended periods (e.g., over 6 months) often trigger a review by HR.
Operational Impact
Budget constraints and the availability of "substantive" officers to fill the role often influence how long acting up is permitted.
Grievance Risk
Forces are wary of officers performing higher duties for very long periods without formal temporary promotion, as this can lead to formal grievances.
If You Are Acting Up Without Pay
If you believe you satisfy the criteria for pay uplift but are not receiving it, consider the following neutral steps:
Ensure the acting has been recorded on HR systems.
Count your cumulative days within the 12-month window.
A simple administrative error is the most common cause.
They can clarify local force-specific variations.
Does Acting Up Help Promotion?
Experience gained while acting up is invaluable for demonstrating "readiness for rank" in the NPPF promotion process. However, performing the role does not guarantee a substantive promotion.
Common Misunderstandings
Myth
Acting up always means more pay.
Reality
A qualifying period must be satisfied first.
Myth
Acting up guarantees a promotion.
Reality
It demonstrates ability but offers no guarantee.
Myth
Acting pay permanently changes pension.
Reality
Only earnings while acting up count toward accrual.
Financial Reality Check
Acting up can increase short-term earnings, but it also increases responsibility, personal exposure, and operational decision risk.
Frequently Asked Questions
Key queries on police acting up pay and regulations.
• How long do you have to act up before getting paid?
Under Police Regulations, a qualifying period of 28 cumulative days within a 12-month period usually applies before an officer becomes entitled to acting up allowance or temporary promotion pay.
• Do you get paid acting Sergeant?
Yes, once the qualifying period is met, a Constable acting as a Sergeant is typically paid at the lowest pay point for the Sergeant rank.
• Does acting Inspector get overtime?
Generally, no. Since the rank of Inspector is not eligible for overtime, an officer on temporary promotion to Inspector typically loses their entitlement to overtime payments for that period.
• Is acting up pensionable?
Yes. Both acting up allowance and temporary promotion pay are considered pensionable earnings during the period they are received.
• Can acting up be refused?
Acting up is an operational requirement determined by the force. While an officer can express a preference, forces can direct an officer to perform higher duties if operationally necessary.
• Can you act up without written agreement?
While operational acting up often starts with a verbal instruction, formal pay uplift requires an administrative record of the dates and duties performed to satisfy Regulation requirements.
• Does acting up reset increment date?
No. Acting up is temporary and does not change your substantive increment date for your actual rank.
• Can student officers act up?
It is extremely rare. Student officers are focusing on their own core competencies, and most forces prohibit student officers from acting up into supervisory roles.
• Is acting up mandatory?
Police officers have a duty to follow lawful orders, which can include performing the duties of a higher rank. However, most forces seek volunteers or those ready for promotion first.
• What regulation covers acting up pay?
Acting up and temporary promotion are primarily governed by Annex I and Annex UU of Police Regulations 2003.
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