Forces urged to copy Northamptonshire Police on overtime pay decision
5 September 2025
Avon & Somerset Police Federation has asked the force to pay its officers planned overtime for extra work at the end of shifts rather than it counting as a ‘half hour for the King’.
This comes as Northamptonshire Police’s Chief Constable agreed to make this change, recognising that overtime that might once have been due to a rare surge is now a common occurrence.
The so-called ‘half hour for the King’ is the long-standing expectation that officers would routinely give extra time at the end of their shifts.
Officers have actually been paid for this half hour since 1994, when the Police Federation successfully challenged its non-payment. All PCs and Sergeants now get an extra payment of around £450 a year, pensionable, to reflect this.
However, demand is now so consistently high that officers are having to plan for extended shifts. Northamptonshire’s Chief Constable has argued this means the time counts as ‘planned overtime’, and should be paid in addition to the allowance.
Tom Gent, Chair of Avon & Somerset Police Federation, supported this move, saying: “This is something that we have brought up with our force and we have asked for similar treatment to Northamptonshire Police officers.”
John Partington, Secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), said: “Northants Police have done the right thing by recognising that relentless demand cannot just be absorbed and that officers must be properly compensated and the sacrifice of their time recognised. We accept the strong case that the Government needs to fund policing properly, but if Northants can do it, every other force can too.”
Sam Dobbs, Chair of Northamptonshire Police Federation, said that police officers serve with “pride, dedication and bravery”, but shouldn’t be expected to shoulder relentless demand without proper recognition.
Sam continued: “Chief Constable Balhatchet’s decision ensures that when officers work beyond their shifts, that time is properly treated as planned overtime. It’s a fairer approach that values officers’ time and wellbeing, and it sends a clear message: the pressures breaking policing must be acknowledged and addressed. We've lobbied on this issue for some time and now it’s time for every force to follow Northamptonshire’s lead.”
This comes as Northamptonshire Police’s Chief Constable agreed to make this change, recognising that overtime that might once have been due to a rare surge is now a common occurrence.
The so-called ‘half hour for the King’ is the long-standing expectation that officers would routinely give extra time at the end of their shifts.
Officers have actually been paid for this half hour since 1994, when the Police Federation successfully challenged its non-payment. All PCs and Sergeants now get an extra payment of around £450 a year, pensionable, to reflect this.
However, demand is now so consistently high that officers are having to plan for extended shifts. Northamptonshire’s Chief Constable has argued this means the time counts as ‘planned overtime’, and should be paid in addition to the allowance.
Tom Gent, Chair of Avon & Somerset Police Federation, supported this move, saying: “This is something that we have brought up with our force and we have asked for similar treatment to Northamptonshire Police officers.”
John Partington, Secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), said: “Northants Police have done the right thing by recognising that relentless demand cannot just be absorbed and that officers must be properly compensated and the sacrifice of their time recognised. We accept the strong case that the Government needs to fund policing properly, but if Northants can do it, every other force can too.”
Sam Dobbs, Chair of Northamptonshire Police Federation, said that police officers serve with “pride, dedication and bravery”, but shouldn’t be expected to shoulder relentless demand without proper recognition.
Sam continued: “Chief Constable Balhatchet’s decision ensures that when officers work beyond their shifts, that time is properly treated as planned overtime. It’s a fairer approach that values officers’ time and wellbeing, and it sends a clear message: the pressures breaking policing must be acknowledged and addressed. We've lobbied on this issue for some time and now it’s time for every force to follow Northamptonshire’s lead.”
