Police Scotland
On-Call Allowance
Police Scotland's on-call allowance rose 20% in April 2025 and again in April 2026, to £43.68 a period. Here is who gets it, what counts as a period, what a month of on-call is worth after tax, why it is pensionable and what the review due by April 2027 covers.
Independent information, not advice · Sources checked 23 October 2026 · Scotland unless stated
£43.68 per period of on-call from 1 April 2026 (£36.40 from April 2025). A period is the time between the end of one shift and the start of the next, or 24 hours if less. It is paid to constables up to chief superintendents in designated on-call roles and it is pensionable (PNBS handbook 4.3; Circular 2026/04; SSI 2015/142 reg 24). One weekend a month is worth £1,572.48 a year before deductions.
Key numbers at a glance
| Figure | Source | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate per period from 1 April 2026 | £43.68 | PNBS Circular 2026/04 |
| Rate per period from 1 April 2025 | £36.40 | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
| A period | End of one shift to start of the next, or 24 hours if less | Handbook 4.3 |
| Ranks | Constable to chief superintendent, designated roles only | Handbook 4.3 |
| Pensionable | Yes: 13.7% contribution, builds 1/56.1 | Handbook 4.3; SSI 2015/142 reg 24 |
| Pension built per period | £0.78 a year from 60, before revaluation | Our arithmetic |
| Kept per period, constable point 5 | £26.29 | Our calculation, 2026/27 Scottish tax |
| Kept per period, sergeant point 4 | £20.99 | Our calculation, 2026/27 Scottish tax |
| Joint review target | 1 April 2027 | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
The on-call rate and its history
The on-call allowance is a flat payment for each period an officer in a designated role must stay available when off duty. The 2025 pay agreement (PNBS Circular 2025/09) left it out of the 4% and 3.5% percentage rises and gave it two 20% increases instead.
| From | Rate | Change | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1 April 2025 | £30.33 | Our arithmetic: £36.40 / 1.2 | - |
| 1 April 2025 | £36.40 | Up 20% (PNBS Circular 2025/09) | £6.07 |
| 1 April 2026 | £43.68 | Up a further 20% (PNBS Circulars 2025/09 and 2026/04) | £7.28 |
Compounded, the two rises take the allowance up 44% over the two years of the deal, well ahead of the 7.64% cumulative rise in basic pay. The rate before April 2025 (£30.33) is our arithmetic from the circular's "20% increase"; it is not printed in the circulars we read.
To see the difference, compare the April 2026 rise in basic pay (3.5% on the 2025 scale after its 0.4% inflation guarantee adjustment, PNBS Circular 2026/01) with the on-call rise:
| 2025/26 | 2026/27 | Rise | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, commencing | £32,851 | £34,001 | 3.5% |
| Constable, point 5 | £43,540 | £45,064 | 3.5% |
| Constable, point 11 | £52,751 | £54,597 | 3.5% |
| On-call allowance, per period | £36.40 | £43.68 | 20.0% |
| Periods | From April 2026 | At the April 2025 rate | At the rate before April 2025 | Gain since April 2025 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 period | £43.68 | £36.40 | £30.33 | £13.35 |
| 4 periods | £174.72 | £145.60 | £121.33 | £53.39 |
| 8 periods | £349.44 | £291.20 | £242.67 | £106.77 |
| 12 periods | £524.16 | £436.80 | £364.00 | £160.16 |
| 24 periods | £1,048.32 | £873.60 | £728.00 | £320.32 |
| 52 periods | £2,271.36 | £1,892.80 | £1,577.33 | £694.03 |
| 104 periods | £4,542.72 | £3,785.60 | £3,154.67 | £1,388.05 |
The circular names on-call as the exception to the percentage rises on "pay and relevant allowances". The pages we read do not say whether a March 2027 inflation guarantee top-up would apply to it. The guarantee test itself is covered in our pay rise 2027/28 tracker.
Who qualifies
Under handbook 4.3, all three conditions must be met:
- there is a predetermined operational requirement for an officer (constable to chief superintendent) to be available outside normal working hours;
- the officer is in a role designated as having an on-call requirement; and
- the officer must remain continuously and immediately available and fit for work when scheduled as off duty.
The list of designated roles is set by consultation and agreement with the Scottish Police Federation or the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents. It is not published on the handbook page, so check with your line manager or staff association whether your post is on it. The handbook names Regulation 26, Annex 18 and Police Circular 2/2011 Annex B (Guidance for On-call Arrangements) as the governing provisions.
The test is "continuously and immediately available and fit for work" as a predetermined requirement of a designated role. Being asked to keep your phone on, or being phoned on a day off, does not by itself make you on call under handbook 4.3. If you are called in without being on call, the recall or rest day rules on our overtime page decide what you get.
What "immediately available and fit for work" means in practice for a given role (response times, where you can be) is set locally and in the 2011 guidance; we have not seen either published, so ask before you agree to a rota.
What counts as a period
A single period is the time between the end of one shift and the start of the next, or 24 hours, whichever is less (handbook 4.3). Periods may include rostered rest days as far as the needs of duty allow, but not consecutive periods of rostered rest days. One allowance is paid per period whether or not you are called out.
| Pattern | Length | Periods | Paid from April 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shift ends 1700, next shift starts 0700, on call overnight | 14 hours between shifts | 1 period | £43.68 |
| Shift ends 1500, next shift starts 0700 | 16 hours between shifts | 1 period | £43.68 |
| On call 0700 Friday to 0700 Monday, rest days Saturday and Sunday (handbook example) | Three 24-hour periods | 3 periods | £131.04 |
| On call 0700 Saturday to 0700 Sunday on a rest day | 24 hours | 1 period | £43.68 |
| A week of shifts with on-call every night, Monday to Friday | Five gaps between shifts | 5 periods | £218.40 |
The weekend line is the handbook's own example (section 4.9): on call from 0700 Friday to 0700 Monday across rest days on Saturday and Sunday is three payments, one each for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The 24-hour cap means a long gap between shifts never earns more than one payment per 24 hours.
Our reading of "not consecutive periods of rostered rest days": you can be on call over a weekend of rest days, but the rota should not put you on call over back-to-back blocks of rest days. The handbook does not give an example of this rule.
What on-call is worth a month and a year
Most on-call is worked on a rota. These are the gross amounts for common patterns at the 2026 rate, with the 2025 rate for comparison.
| Pattern | A month (2026) | A year (2026) | A year at the 2025 rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 periods a month (for example one Friday to Monday weekend) | £131.04 | £1,572.48 | £1,310.40 |
| 6 periods a month (two such weekends) | £262.08 | £3,144.96 | £2,620.80 |
| 8 periods a month | £349.44 | £4,193.28 | £3,494.40 |
| 10 periods a month | £436.80 | £5,241.60 | £4,368.00 |
| 15 periods a month | £655.20 | £7,862.40 | £6,552.00 |
The allowance is paid per period, so the real figure is the number of periods on your duty record multiplied by £43.68. A week of nightly on-call between five shifts is five periods; a Friday to Monday weekend is three.
What you keep after pension, tax and NI
Because on-call is pensionable, 13.7% pension comes off it before tax. Then Scottish income tax and National Insurance apply. This table assumes 36 periods in 2026/27 (one weekend a month, £1,572.48) on top of full-time basic pay.
| Officer | Basic pay | On-call | Pension paid | Tax and NI | You keep | Pension built a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, point 5 | £45,064 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £410.78 | £946.27 | £28.03 |
| Constable, point 11 | £54,597 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £601.41 | £755.64 | £28.03 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £61,036 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £601.41 | £755.64 | £28.03 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £67,491 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £601.41 | £755.64 | £28.03 |
| Inspector, point 5 | £74,853 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £601.41 | £755.64 | £28.03 |
| Chief inspector, point 4 | £80,989 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £601.41 | £755.64 | £28.03 |
| Superintendent, point 1 | £89,569 | £1,572.48 | £215.43 | £642.12 | £714.93 | £28.03 |
A constable on point 5 keeps £946.27 of £1,572.48, because their pay after pension sits in the 21% intermediate band with 8% NI. A sergeant on point 4 keeps £755.64: 42% tax plus 2% NI. Per period, that is £26.29 kept from each £43.68 for the constable, £20.99 for the sergeant and £19.86 for a superintendent on point 1.
Each payment also builds pension (last column), which the take-home figure leaves out. For take-home with on-call added to your own pay point, use the Police Scotland salary calculator. The tax bands are explained in our Scottish income tax guide.
One on-call period at every pay point
The allowance is flat, so it is worth more relative to pay at the bottom of the scale than at the top. This table shows one period (£43.68) against each 1 April 2026 pay point: how many hours of plain-time pay it equals (hourly rate annual x 6/12520, PNBS handbook 2.11), what share of a day's pay it is and what you keep after 13.7% pension, Scottish income tax and NI.
| Rank and point | Basic pay | Hourly rate | Equals | Of a day's pay | Kept after deductions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, commencing | £34,001 | £16.29 | 2.7 h | 34% | £26.66 |
| Constable, point 1 | £36,995 | £17.73 | 2.5 h | 31% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 2 | £39,988 | £19.16 | 2.3 h | 28% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 3 | £42,377 | £20.31 | 2.2 h | 27% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 4 | £43,683 | £20.93 | 2.1 h | 26% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 5 | £45,064 | £21.60 | 2.0 h | 25% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 6 | £46,321 | £22.20 | 2.0 h | 25% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 7 | £47,440 | £22.73 | 1.9 h | 24% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 8 | £48,940 | £23.45 | 1.9 h | 23% | £26.29 |
| Constable, point 9 | £51,842 | £24.84 | 1.8 h | 22% | £20.99 |
| Constable, point 10 | £52,873 | £25.34 | 1.7 h | 22% | £20.99 |
| Constable, point 11 | £54,597 | £26.16 | 1.7 h | 21% | £20.99 |
| Sergeant, point 1 | £56,455 | £27.06 | 1.6 h | 20% | £20.99 |
| Sergeant, point 2 | £57,637 | £27.62 | 1.6 h | 20% | £20.99 |
| Sergeant, point 3 | £59,312 | £28.42 | 1.5 h | 19% | £20.99 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £61,036 | £29.25 | 1.5 h | 19% | £20.99 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £67,491 | £32.34 | 1.4 h | 17% | £20.99 |
| Inspector, point 2 | £69,369 | £33.24 | 1.3 h | 16% | £20.99 |
| Inspector, point 3 | £71,248 | £34.14 | 1.3 h | 16% | £20.99 |
| Inspector, point 4 | £73,130 | £35.05 | 1.2 h | 16% | £20.99 |
| Inspector, point 5 | £74,853 | £35.87 | 1.2 h | 15% | £20.99 |
| Chief Inspector, point 1 | £76,087 | £36.46 | 1.2 h | 15% | £20.99 |
| Chief Inspector, point 2 | £77,638 | £37.21 | 1.2 h | 15% | £20.99 |
| Chief Inspector, point 3 | £79,734 | £38.21 | 1.1 h | 14% | £20.99 |
| Chief Inspector, point 4 | £80,989 | £38.81 | 1.1 h | 14% | £20.99 |
| Superintendent, point 1 | £89,569 | £42.92 | 1.0 h | 13% | £19.86 |
| Superintendent, point 2 | £94,204 | £45.15 | 1.0 h | 12% | £19.86 |
| Superintendent, point 3 | £99,075 | £47.48 | 0.9 h | 11% | £19.86 |
| Superintendent, point 4 | £105,632 | £50.62 | 0.9 h | 11% | £19.86 |
| Chief Superintendent, point 1 | £110,803 | £53.10 | 0.8 h | 10% | £19.86 |
| Chief Superintendent, point 2 | £114,519 | £54.88 | 0.8 h | 10% | £19.86 |
| Chief Superintendent, point 3 | £116,838 | £55.99 | 0.8 h | 10% | £11.38 |
| Chief Superintendent, point 4 | £120,554 | £57.77 | 0.8 h | 9% | £11.38 |
For a new constable one period is worth about 2.7 hours of basic pay; for a superintendent on point 1 about 1.0 hours. The amount kept falls in steps as pay crosses the Scottish 42% band and the NI upper limit, then the 45% advanced band for the most senior ranks.
| Officer | 12 periods | 24 periods | 36 periods | 52 periods | 104 periods |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, point 5 | £315 | £631 | £946 | £1,367 | £2,734 |
| Constable, point 11 | £252 | £504 | £756 | £1,091 | £2,183 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £252 | £504 | £756 | £1,091 | £2,183 |
| Inspector, point 5 | £252 | £504 | £756 | £1,091 | £2,183 |
| Superintendent, point 1 | £238 | £477 | £715 | £1,033 | £2,065 |
Worked example: a constable on point 5 doing 36 periods
- Gross on-call: 36 x £43.68 = £1,572.48 for the year.
- Pension contribution: 13.7% of £1,572.48 = £215.43, taken before tax because on-call is pensionable.
- Taxable on-call: £1,572.48 less £215.43 = £1,357.05. Basic pay of £45,064 less 13.7% leaves £38,890 of taxable pay, inside the 21% intermediate band (£29,527 to £43,662).
- Income tax: £284.98 (21% of the taxable on-call).
- National Insurance: £125.80 (8% of the gross on-call, because gross pay stays under £50,270).
- Kept: £946.27, or £78.86 a month.
- Pension built: £1,572.48 / 56.1 = £28.03 a year of pension from age 60, revalued while you serve. The employer pays a further £608.55 (38.7%) into the scheme.
The same steps apply to every officer; only the tax band and NI rate change. A sergeant's on-call is taxed at 42% and NI at 2% because their gross pay is over £50,270, which is why the sergeant keeps less of each period above.
- Gross on-call: £1,572.48.
- Pension contribution at 13.7%: £215.43.
- Pay after pension is over £75,000, so the on-call is taxed in the 45% advanced band; NI is 2%. Tax and NI together: £642.12.
- Kept: £714.93. Pension built: £28.03 a year, the same as the constable, because the scheme builds the same 1/56.1 of every pound at every rank.
That last point is easy to miss: the pension built by on-call does not depend on rank, while the cash kept does. For higher-rate taxpayers the pension part is a larger share of the allowance's real value.
Why it matters that on-call is pensionable
Two primary sources agree. The PNBS handbook says "All on-call payments will be reckonable as pensionable" (4.3). The Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2015 define pensionable earnings as pay at the rate you are entitled to plus "earnings in respect of on-call allowance" (reg 24(2), as substituted from 1 January 2023). Part-time members also have on-call earnings counted.
In the 2015 Scottish scheme every pound of pensionable pay builds 1/56.1 of a pound of pension a year, revalued by prices plus 1.25% while you serve. The employer also pays 38.7% on it. For 36 periods a year:
| Years on the rota | On-call paid | Your 13.7% contributions | Pension a year, before revaluation | With revaluation, today's money |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 years | £7,862.40 | £1,077.15 | £140.15 | £145.49 |
| 10 years | £15,724.80 | £2,154.30 | £280.30 | £300.31 |
| 20 years | £31,449.60 | £4,308.60 | £560.60 | £640.34 |
The last column uses the same Scottish projection as our pension calculator: each year's slice is revalued by prices plus 1.25% while you serve, with the on-call rate assumed to rise in line with prices (2% a year), so the figure is in today's money. It is pension payable from 60 with no early payment reduction.
Police pension contributions come off pay before tax (a net pay arrangement), so the real cost of the contribution on on-call is lower than 13.7%. For 36 periods a year:
| Officer | Contribution | Tax saved | Real cost | Pension a year built |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable, point 5 | £215.43 | £45.24 | £170.19 | £28.03 |
| Constable, point 11 | £215.43 | £90.48 | £124.95 | £28.03 |
| Sergeant, point 4 | £215.43 | £90.48 | £124.95 | £28.03 |
| Inspector, point 1 | £215.43 | £90.48 | £124.95 | £28.03 |
| Inspector, point 5 | £215.43 | £90.48 | £124.95 | £28.03 |
Each year your £215.43 of contributions (before tax relief) buys £28.03 a year of pension from age 60, so the contributions are repaid in about 7.7 years of pension, before revaluation and tax. Revaluation makes the real figure better for officers with many years to serve. The Police Scotland pension explained guide and the Police Scotland pension calculator show how slices add up.
On-call should appear in your pensionable pay and the 13.7% contribution should be taken from it. If it is missing from pensionable pay, ask payroll: it changes both your contributions and your pension. How on-call counts for members whose remedy-period service is in the 1987 or 2006 schemes is not covered on the pages we read; see our McCloud remedy guide and ask SPPA.
If you are called out
The allowance pays for being available. Work you do when called is compensated separately under the normal rules: constables and sergeants under the recall rules (time and a third, with minimums for recalls starting between 2300 and 0700) or the rest day rules, inspecting and superintending ranks with another rest day and, under 48 hours' notice with at least 4 hours worked, the Short-notice Rest Day Working Allowance. The handbook's weekend example confirms the on-call payment is due whether or not you are called out.
| Situation | On-call | Call-out pay | Also | Total before tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Constable point 5 on call, recalled at 0130 to an incident, works 2 hours | £43.68 | £115.18 | 1.5 h travelling time | £158.86 |
| Constable point 5 on call, phoned at 0300 for advice, 25 minutes, no attendance | £43.68 | £28.79 | - | £72.47 |
| Sergeant point 4 on call, recalled at 1900 between shifts, 1 h 40 m at the station | £43.68 | £58.50 | 1.5 h travelling time | £102.18 |
| Constable point 5 on call on a rest day, called in the same day, 3 hours at a station (rest day rules, under 8 days' notice) | £43.68 | £172.77 | 4 h paid (4-hour minimum); 1.5 h travelling time | £216.45 |
| Inspector point 1 on call, recalled at 0200, 2 hours | £43.68 | No overtime | - | £43.68 |
| Inspector point 1 on call over a weekend, called to the office Saturday 0700 to 1100 at under 48 hours' notice | £43.68 | Another rest day | plus Short-notice Rest Day Working Allowance £112.05 | £155.73 |
Travelling time is shown in hours because the handbook pages we read do not state its rate. The rest day line assumes being called in on the day counts as a requirement to work on a rest day with less than 8 days' notice; the on-call section of the handbook does not spell this case out for constables, so check how your call-outs are recorded. Price any call-out with the Police Scotland overtime calculator.
Inspectors and superintendents on call
Inspecting and superintending ranks can be designated for on-call and receive the same £43.68 per period. What differs is the call-out: they get no overtime payment or TOIL for a recall (Quick Reference C), so the allowance is often the only money they receive for being on call.
The handbook's own example (section 4.9), priced for an inspector on point 1 (£67,491):
- On call from 0700 Friday to 0700 Monday, across rest days on Saturday and Sunday: three on-call payments, £131.04.
- Called to the office at short notice on Saturday from 0700 to 1100: another rest day for the disrupted Saturday.
- The notice was under 48 hours and at least 4 hours were worked, so the Short-notice Rest Day Working Allowance applies: £112.05.
- Total cash for the weekend: £243.09 before deductions. The on-call part is pensionable (£17.95 contribution); the short-notice allowance is not.
- After pension, Scottish tax (42% band) and NI (2%), about £125.72 is kept, plus the rest day back.
Inspectors and chief inspectors called in on 1 January or 25 December are paid double time with a 4-hour minimum, because public holiday compensation covers all federated ranks since the 2025 agreement; superintendents get another rest day. See inspecting and superintending ranks and promotion in Police Scotland.
A month of on-call with call-outs
Illustration for a constable on point 5 in a month with 6 on-call periods and three call-outs, at 1 April 2026 rates. The on-call allowance is pensionable; the call-out pay is not (pensionable earnings are pay at your rate plus on-call, SSI 2015/142 reg 24).
| Item | Before tax | Pensionable? |
|---|---|---|
| 6 on-call periods | £262.08 | Yes |
| Recalled at 0130 to an incident, 2 hours | £115.18 | No |
| Phoned at 0300 for advice, 25 minutes, no attendance | £28.79 | No |
| Called in on an on-call rest day, 3 hours at a station | £172.77 | No |
| Total | £578.82 | - |
Of the £578.82, £35.90 goes in pension contributions on the on-call part and £160.32 in tax and NI, leaving £382.60 (an annual approximation; PAYE runs month by month). Travelling time on the two attended call-outs would be on top. The night phone call shows the value of the 1-hour minimum: 25 minutes is paid as an hour at time and a third.
Is on-call worth it? The pay per hour of availability
Because one payment covers the whole gap between two shifts (up to 24 hours), the allowance is modest when spread over the hours you must stay available. The table shows £43.68 per hour of a period, before and after deductions:
| Length of period | Gross per hour | Constable point 5 keeps | Sergeant point 4 keeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8-hour period | £5.46 | £3.29 | £2.62 |
| 14-hour period | £3.12 | £1.88 | £1.50 |
| 16-hour period | £2.73 | £1.64 | £1.31 |
| 24-hour period | £1.82 | £1.10 | £0.87 |
The value of on-call for most officers is the call-outs: a single night recall with attendance is at least 4 hours at time and a third for constables and sergeants, which for a constable on point 5 is £115.18 before tax on top of the allowance. For inspecting and superintending ranks, who get no overtime, the allowance and any short-notice rest day allowance are the money. Weigh that against the restriction on your time; the joint review due by 1 April 2027 is looking at excessive on-call and whether it should stay voluntary.
Rest days, disruption and overnight allowances
- Excessive Rest Day Disruption Allowance (£25.99): paid on the fourth and later disrupted rest day in a rolling 42 days (handbook 4.1). Being on call on a rest day "but not required to perform duty" is expressly not a disruption. A rest day on which you are called in and required to work is assessed under the normal disruption rules.
- Short-notice Rest Day Working Allowance (£112.05): inspecting and superintending ranks required to work a rest day with less than 48 hours' notice of the start time and working at least 4 hours (handbook 4.9). It is paid on top of another rest day and on top of any on-call payment, as the handbook's weekend example shows. It is not pensionable.
- Additional Disruption Allowance (£54.72 a night): a different payment for federated ranks already on the Overnight Disruption Allowance (£82.07 a night) whose off-duty activities are restricted or who must stay available for recall at any time while deployed away from home (handbook 4.2.2). The handbook pages we read do not say how it interacts with the on-call allowance.
All the rates are on our Police Scotland allowances 2026 page.
Part-time officers
The on-call conditions in handbook 4.3 apply to "an officer" from constable to chief superintendent with no exclusion for part-time officers. For part-time members of the 2015 Scottish scheme, pensionable earnings are the pay attributable to their determined hours plus "earnings in respect of on-call allowance" (SSI 2015/142 reg 24(2)(b)), so on-call builds pension for part-timers too.
The handbook page does not say whether the per-period rate is reduced for part-time officers. Because a period is defined by the gap between shifts rather than by hours, we show the full £43.68; check your payslip. Part-time officers called out are paid plain time for additional hours up to 40 in the week, then overtime rates (handbook 2.2), as explained on our overtime page.
Timeline: on-call in Police Scotland
| Date | What happened | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Police Circular 2/2011 Annex B, Guidance for On-call Arrangements, named as a governing document | Handbook 4.3 |
| 1 April 2025 | On-call up 20% to £36.40 a period, backdated under the 2025 deal | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
| 4 September 2025 | Two-year pay agreement for 2025/26 and 2026/27 issued, with on-call excepted from the percentage rises and a joint review of on-call and annual leave | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
| 30 January 2026 | Allowance rates from 1 April 2026 published: on-call £43.68 | PNBS Circular 2026/04 |
| 1 April 2026 | On-call up a further 20% to £43.68 | PNBS Circulars 2025/09 and 2026/04 |
| 31 March 2027 | The two-year deal ends | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
| 1 April 2027 | Target date for agreement on the regulatory approach to on-call and annual leave | PNBS Circular 2025/09 |
"Backdated" reflects that the agreement was issued in September 2025 with rates from 1 April 2025, so 2025/26 increases were paid as arrears. The exact arrears date is set by payroll, not the circular.
The review due by April 2027
PNBS Circular 2025/09 commits both sides to a joint review of annual leave and on-call after the Fraser of Allander Institute Phase Two research, aiming for agreement on the regulatory approach by 1 April 2027. For on-call it covers how to resolve or recognise excessive on-call and whether on-call should stay voluntary.
What to watch for:
- a new PNBS circular on on-call or annual leave (the PNBS circulars list showed none beyond 2026/04 on 22 October 2026);
- the 2027/28 pay claim, which the Staff Side intended to submit before the end of 2026 (PNBS February 2026 minutes, summary only);
- any change to the voluntary basis or to recognition of excessive on-call.
We track the next deal on the pay rise 2027/28 page and the leave side on the annual leave guide. The outcome of the review is not known.
Scotland vs England and Wales
| Police Scotland | England and Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| Rate | £43.68 from 1 April 2026 | £35 from 1 September 2025 |
| Unit | Per period: end of one shift to start of the next, or 24 hours if less | Per day on which any time is spent on call; a day is 24 hours from a time the chief officer fixes |
| Ranks | Constable to chief superintendent | Constable to chief superintendent |
| Pensionable? | Yes (handbook 4.3; SSI 2015/142 reg 24) | No: a reg 34 allowance, not pay under the Police Pensions Regulations 2015 reg 33 |
| Set by | PNBS agreement approved by Scottish Ministers | Home Office determination after the PRRB |
| Recent rises | 20% in April 2025 and 20% in April 2026 | £25 to £35 from 1 September 2025 |
| Units | Police Scotland | England and Wales | Scottish pension built a year | England and Wales pension built |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 periods or days | £524.16 | £420.00 | £9.34 | £0.00 |
| 36 periods or days | £1,572.48 | £1,260.00 | £28.03 | £0.00 |
| 52 periods or days | £2,271.36 | £1,820.00 | £40.49 | £0.00 |
The units are not identical: a Scottish period can be shorter than a day (the gap between two shifts), while an England and Wales day is any 24-hour day (from a time the chief officer fixes) on which you spend any time on call. Compare like with like before quoting one figure against the other.
Officers moving between the two systems should note the pension effect. A Police Scotland officer doing 36 periods a year builds £28.03 a year of pension from on-call; an England and Wales officer doing 36 on-call days builds none from it, because the allowance there is not pensionable earnings.
Do not apply the England and Wales definition of a day to Police Scotland. Scotland pays per period as defined above. Our England and Wales on-call allowance guide covers the rules south of the border and officers thinking of moving should read our transfers guide.
Before you agree to an on-call rota
Questions worth asking, based on what the handbook does and does not say:
- Is my role designated? Without designation there is no allowance (handbook 4.3).
- How many periods a month and on which rest days? The rota should not cover consecutive periods of rostered rest days.
- What response is expected? "Immediately available and fit for work" is the test; the local detail is not in the handbook.
- How are call-outs recorded? A recall between shifts, a rest day requirement and a public holiday are priced differently. Make sure the record shows which it was.
- Is it voluntary? The joint review due by 1 April 2027 includes whether on-call should stay voluntary; ask how your role treats it now.
- What does it do to my pension? On-call adds to pensionable pay. Run the pension calculator with and without it.
Federated members can get advice from the Scottish Police Federation; superintendents from the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, the bodies that agree the list of designated roles.
How to check your on-call pay
- Confirm your role is designated. Ask your line manager or staff association whether your post is on the agreed list.
- Count periods, not hours. One per gap between shifts, capped at 24 hours, including rest days you were on call.
- Multiply by the rate. £43.68 for periods from 1 April 2026; £36.40 for periods in 2025/26.
- Check pension is taken. On-call should be in pensionable pay with 13.7% deducted.
- Check call-outs separately. Recalls and rest day work should appear as their own lines at the right rate, with travelling time where due.
- Check the disruption count. On-call alone does not count; being called in to work on a rest day can.
- Query gaps promptly with payroll, keeping your rota and duty record.
What the lines might look like for the constable on point 5 in the month above if everything landed on one payslip (labels and timing vary by payroll):
| Line | Amount | Pensionable? |
|---|---|---|
| Basic pay (1/12 of the annual rate, handbook 2.11) | £3,755.33 | Yes |
| On-call allowance, 6 x £43.68 | £262.08 | Yes |
| Recall, 4 h at time and a third | £115.18 | No |
| Recall, 1 h minimum at time and a third | £28.79 | No |
| Rest day, 4 h at double time | £172.77 | No |
| Pension at 13.7% on basic pay and on-call | -£550.39 | - |
The pension line is the one to check: 13.7% should be charged on basic pay plus on-call and on nothing else. Income tax and NI on a single month depend on your tax code and the month's thresholds, so they are not shown.
Terms used in the handbook
- Designated role: a post agreed with the SPF or ASPS as having an on-call requirement. Only these attract the allowance.
- Predetermined operational requirement: on-call planned in advance as part of the role, not an ad hoc request to be contactable.
- Period: from the end of one shift to the start of the next, or 24 hours if less.
- Reckonable as pensionable: counted as pensionable pay, so contributions are taken and pension is built.
- Recall: extra duty between two rostered tours, paid at time and a third to constables and sergeants (Quick Reference C).
- Relevant travelling time: a fixed 1.5 hours for the return journey on a recall or short rest day work, cut where duty plus travel exceeds 6 hours (handbook 1.9).
- TOIL: time off in lieu of payment for extra duty, at the officer's choice.
- Disrupted rest day: a rostered or reinstated rest day you are required to work; on call without duty does not count (handbook 4.1).
Common mistakes
- Using the England and Wales £35 a day. Scotland pays £43.68 per period.
- Thinking on-call is not pensionable. In Scotland it is, unlike England and Wales.
- Expecting the 3.5% rise on top. On-call got the 20% rises instead of the percentage rises.
- Dropping the allowance when called out. The on-call payment is due whether or not you are called out; call-out work is paid on top.
- Counting hours. A 16-hour gap between shifts is one period, not two.
- Counting on-call days towards the disruption allowance. Being on call on a rest day without working is not a disrupted rest day.
- Assuming any availability request is on-call. Only designated roles under a predetermined requirement qualify.
What we could not verify
- The list of designated on-call roles (agreed with the SPF or ASPS, not published on the handbook page).
- The text of Police Circular 2/2011 Annex B (Guidance for On-call Arrangements), which we have not read.
- The rate before 1 April 2025: £30.33 is our arithmetic from the 20% rise, not a published figure.
- Whether a March 2027 inflation guarantee top-up would apply to the on-call allowance.
- How on-call earnings count for legacy (1987 or 2006 scheme) service in the McCloud remedy period.
- Whether the Additional Disruption Allowance and the on-call allowance can be paid for the same night.
- The rate at which relevant travelling time is paid on a call-out.
- The outcome of the joint review due by 1 April 2027.
More for Scottish officers: Police Scotland officers hub, Islands Allowance, detective ranks and pay, ranks in order and Police Scotland pay scales.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Police Scotland on-call allowance?
£43.68 per period from 1 April 2026, up 20% from £36.40 from 1 April 2025, which was itself a 20% rise (PNBS Circulars 2025/09 and 2026/04). The two rises add up to 44% over the deal.
What is a period of on-call in Police Scotland?
A single period of on-call is the time between the end of one shift and the start of the next, or 24 hours, whichever is less (PNBS handbook 4.3). The allowance is paid per period.
Who gets the on-call allowance in Police Scotland?
Officers from constable to chief superintendent in a role designated as having an on-call requirement, who must stay continuously and immediately available and fit for work when off duty, as a predetermined operational requirement. The list of roles is agreed with the Scottish Police Federation or the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents.
Is the on-call allowance pensionable in Scotland?
Yes. The handbook says all on-call payments will be reckonable as pensionable and the 2015 Scottish scheme's definition of pensionable earnings includes on-call allowance earnings (SSI 2015/142 reg 24). So 13.7% pension comes off it and it builds pension at 1/56.1.
How much is on-call worth a month in Police Scotland?
It depends how many periods you do. One weekend a month (3 periods) is £131.04 a month or £1,572.48 a year before deductions. A constable on point 5 keeps £946.27 of that £1,572.48 a year after pension, tax and NI.
Did the on-call allowance get the 3.5% pay rise?
No. On-call was excepted from the 4% and 3.5% percentage rises and got two 20% increases instead, to £36.40 and then £43.68.
Can on-call include rest days?
As far as the needs of duty allow, periods of on-call may include rostered rest days, but not consecutive periods of rostered rest days (handbook 4.3).
What happens if I am called out while on call?
You keep the on-call allowance and are compensated for the work under the normal rules: for example a recall at time and a third for constables and sergeants. The handbook's example: an officer on call over a weekend gets one allowance for each day whether called out or not.
Do inspectors get the on-call allowance in Scotland?
Yes, every rank from constable to chief superintendent can, if their role is designated. Inspectors get no overtime for a call-out, but on a rest day they get another rest day and, at under 48 hours' notice with at least 4 hours worked, the Short-notice Rest Day Working Allowance (£112.05).
Does on-call on a rest day count towards the Excessive Rest Day Disruption Allowance?
Not if you are only on call. The handbook (4.1) says a rest day is not treated as disrupted where the officer was on call on a rest day but was not required to perform duty.
Is the Police Scotland on-call allowance higher than in England?
Per unit, yes: £43.68 a period in Scotland from April 2026 against £35 a day in England and Wales from 1 September 2025. The units differ and in England and Wales the allowance is not pensionable, while in Scotland it is.
How many on-call payments is a weekend?
The handbook's example (section 4.9): on call from 0700 Friday to 0700 Monday across rest days on Saturday and Sunday is three payments, one each for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, so £131.04 from April 2026, whether or not you are called out.
Is on-call changing in Police Scotland?
The 2025 pay deal set up a joint review of on-call and annual leave, aiming for agreement on the regulatory approach by 1 April 2027. It includes excessive on-call and whether on-call should stay voluntary.
Where are the on-call rules written down?
PNBS police officer handbook section 4.3, which lists Regulation 26, Annex 18 and Police Circular 2/2011 Annex B (Guidance for On-call Arrangements) as the governing provisions. The rate is in section 4.12 and PNBS Circular 2026/04.
Is the on-call allowance taxed?
Yes. It is taxable pay with Class 1 National Insurance. Because it is pensionable, the 13.7% contribution comes off it before tax.
How much pension does on-call build in Scotland?
Each period builds £0.78 a year of 2015 Scottish scheme pension (£43.68 / 56.1), revalued by prices plus 1.25% while you serve. 36 periods a year build £28.03 a year of pension for each year on the rota.
Do part-time officers get the on-call allowance?
The handbook conditions apply to any officer in a designated role and the 2015 Scottish scheme counts on-call earnings as pensionable for part-time members (SSI 2015/142 reg 24(2)(b)). The handbook page does not say whether the rate is pro-rated, so check your payslip.
Is a phone call while on call paid?
If you are a constable or sergeant and the call is a recall starting between 2300 and 0700 without attending a station, incident or court, the minimum is 1 hour at time and a third (Quick Reference C), on top of the on-call payment. Between 0700 and 2300 each completed 15 minutes is paid.
Sources and how we checked them
Every factual claim on this page was written from the sources below, read on 23 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.
- PNBS police officer handbook, 4.3 On-call Allowance : eligibility; a period; rest days; pensionable; Regulation 26, Annex 18, Police Circular 2/2011 Annex B (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 4.12 Allowance rates : on-call paid per period (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 4.9 Short-notice Rest Day Working Allowance : worked example of on-call over a weekend (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 4.1 Excessive Rest Day Disruption Allowance : on call on a rest day without duty is not a disruption (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS police officer handbook, 4.2 Overnight allowances : Overnight and Additional Disruption Allowances (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS handbook Quick Reference C: recall to duty : what a call-out pays constables and sergeants (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS handbook 2.5 Required to work on a rest day : rest day call-outs (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS Circular 2025/09 : 20% rises to £36.40 and £43.68; on-call excepted from the percentage rises; review by 1 April 2027 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- PNBS Circular 2026/04, Allowances : £43.68 and the other allowance rates from 1 April 2026 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Police Pension Scheme (Scotland) Regulations 2015, reg 24 : pensionable earnings include earnings in respect of on-call allowance (accessed 23 October 2026)
- SPPA: How your police pension works : 13.7% member and 38.7% employer contributions (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Annex U (Amendment) determination, England and Wales : England and Wales comparison: £35 a day from 1 September 2025 (accessed 23 October 2026)
- Police Pensions Regulations 2015 (England and Wales), reg 33 : England and Wales comparison: pensionable earnings are pay, not reg 34 allowances (accessed 23 October 2026)
- GOV.UK: Scottish Income Tax : 2026/27 bands used for take-home (accessed 23 October 2026)
On this topic elsewhere
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Disclaimer
PolicePay.co.uk is an independent guide. It is not affiliated with Police Scotland, the Scottish Police Authority, the Police Negotiating Board for Scotland, the Scottish Police Federation or the Scottish Public Pensions Agency. This page is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Pay and conditions are set through the PNBS and approved by Scottish Ministers and SPPA's figures are the only official pension figures, so check the PNBS handbook, your payslip and your Annual Benefit Statement before relying on anything here. Details are as checked on 23 October 2026.