Police Federation clarifies rules on changes to rostered duties

18 September 2025

With the increase of exigencies, the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has issued clarification on the circumstances under which changes can be made to published duty rosters.

Within 90 days of a published duty roster, any alterations must be due to the exigencies of duty, unless requested by the officer themselves..

The term ‘exigencies of duty’ refers to situations where an unavoidable and pressing operational need requires a change in rostered hours.

Importantly, the definition of ‘pressing’ relates to the time the duty is to be performed rather than when the roster is amended. This means that a change may be known months in advance but still qualify as pressing if it meets operational requirements.

Officer welfare

Changes must be made with full consideration of officer welfare, operational needs, and practical circumstances, and not purely for financial reasons.

Because rosters are produced annually, unforeseen circumstances may occasionally require amendments. Examples include:

Unexpected public order situations
Court attendance
Essential training requirements

Where changes are necessary, officers must be informed as early as possible, and in all cases no later than midnight on the day before the revised duty begins.

This guidance reinforces the Federation’s commitment to representing, influencing, and negotiating on behalf of officers, ensuring that operational demands are balanced with fairness, welfare, and transparency.

If you have any questions, please contact your local Federation representative.