Refreshment Breaks
Refreshment Breaks
Normal Daily Period of Duty: Reg 22 Annex E Determination
The normal daily period of duty (including refreshments) is 8 hours.
As far as the exigencies of duty permit the normal daily period of duty shall be performed in one tour, with an interval of 45 minutes for refreshments, except when a half-day’s annual leave is taken.
Where an officer works in accordance with variable shift arrangement is on duty for a continuous period of 5 hours or more, time for refreshments shall as far as exigencies of duty permit be allowed as follows:
|
Number of Hours |
Refreshment Time |
|
Less than 6 |
30 mins |
|
6 ~ 7 hours |
35 mins |
|
7 ~ 8 hours |
40 mins |
|
8 ~ 9 hours |
45 mins |
|
9 ~ 10 hours |
50 mins |
|
10 hours or more |
60 mins |
Where a normal duty period is performed in more than one hour and you do not travel to and from home between tours, an interval for refreshment and rest should normally be included at the beginning or end of one of those tours.
A 'day' means a period of 24 hours starting at such time as the chief officer may determine.
Your right to a refreshment break
Where an officer is on duty for a continuous period of 5 hours or more, they are entitled to a refreshment break, as far as exigencies of duty permit.
Exigencies of service are a pressing need or requirement which cannot be reasonably avoided. However, this does not mean that refreshment breaks can be abused or ignored.
Police Officers are paid for their refreshment break as they are required to remain available to return to duty. Regulations offer little protection when refreshment breaks are not taken or interrupted so we must rely on other legislation to assist, such as Working Time Regulations, as shown below.
Breaches of the Working Time Regulations can be dealt with by an Employment Tribunal or complaint to the Health and Safety Executive who can issue the Force with an improvement notice, or even prosecute the Force if the situation is not improved.
