I‘ve been asked to perform as an Acting Sergeant/Inspector but have been told there is a qualifying period. Am I entitled to overtime? If so, at what rate?

Each financial year, you are required to work for 10 complete days cumulative (in the case of a part-time officer 80 complete hours and an officer with variable shift arrangements qualifying shifts amounting in total to 80 hours) in a 12 month period before you can receive a temporary salary. A period of 12 months begins on 1 April. 

Acting Sergeants and Inspectors are entitled to Temporary Duty Allowance. Any overtime incurred whilst acting will be paid at your substantive rank i.e. 

• an Acting Sergeant’s overtime will be paid at Constable’s rates and
• an Acting Inspector’s overtime will be paid at Sergeant’s rates but only during the first 10 working days and on any Rest Days or Bank Holidays during the entire period of Acting.
• No overtime is payable on a normal working day once the first 10 working days of Acting have been completed. 

If you are an officer who has been promoted to a temporary rank, there is no requirement to work a qualifying period and you will in fact progress through the pay scales of your temporary rank until you revert back to your substantive rank. If you are promoted again to a temporary rank, you will automatically start at the same pay point of that rank where you left off.