CHANGES TO ROSTERED DUTIES

Please see, for your reference, an extract from Police Negotiating Board (PNB) Circular 86/9.

1. Where alterations are made to annual duty roster after its publication these changes must arise from the exigencies of duty (unless they are made at the officer’s own request or have otherwise been agreed with the Joint Branch Board). The term “exigencies of duty” should be interpreted as relating to situations where a pressing* demand, need or requirement is perceived that is not reasonably avoidable and necessitates a change of roster. Changes to rosters should only be made after full consideration of welfare, operational and practical circumstances rather than purely on financial grounds.

 In this context the word pressing relates to the expected situation at the time when they duty is to be performed rather than the time when the duty roster is changed i.e., the reasons for a change may be known many months in advance but still pressing.

2. Because rosters are produced annually a number of unforeseen reasons for change may subsequently arise. It is clearly not possible to produce an exhaustive list of all the potential reasons which may necessitate changes. However, by way of example, changes to rostered duties would be justified by unforeseen public order situations, court attendance and essential training. An officer should be told as soon as the requirement for the change is known and at the latest, by midnight on the calendar day before the changed period of duty commences.

SUMMARY

o Roster changes after publication must be due to the exigencies of duty, unless requested by the officer or agreed with the Joint Branch Board.

o Exigencies of duty refers to unavoidable, pressing operational needs that justify changes.

The urgency relates to the duty itself, not when the change is made and may be known

months in advance.

o Changes must consider welfare, operational and practical needs, not financial reasons alone.

o As annual rosters cannot predict every situation, unforeseen circumstances (e.g., public order events, court attendance, essential training) may justify changes.

o Officers should be notified as soon as possible, and no later than midnight the day before the revised duty starts