10 September 2025

Forces urged to copy Northamptonshire Police on overtime pay decision

Dorset Police Federation has asked the force to follow Northamptonshire Police’s example and pay officers for planned overtime at the end of shifts rather than it counting as a ‘half hour for the King’.

Northamptonshire’s Chief Constable made the change as it was recognised 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.

The Chair of Dorset Police Federation, Chris Wood, has written to Dorset’s Chief Constable Amanda Pearson to ask her to consider following Northamptonshire Police’s lead.

He said: “Dorset Police is in the same position as Northamptonshire: we know this from the feedback from our survey as well as the conversations we have already had around exigency of duty, sickness levels and demand.

“Many dedicated and committed officers are regularly staying on after their shift finish time without compensation. Our members continue to serve our public with a great amount of dedication and pride, but they should not be expected to do this continually for free and on goodwill.”

Chris added: “I fully understand the financial pressures that Dorset Police is under and the impact on our budget that this could have; however, by following Northamptonshire Police’s lead, you could show the value Dorset Police places on its officers and provide a huge boost to not just frontline officers but the morale of all Federated ranks in Dorset.”

PFEW National Secretary John Partington 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 government needs to fund policing properly, but if Northants can do it, every other force can too.”