Paternity Leave Rules ‘Belong In Another Era’

Police officers across England and Wales say they are being disadvantaged by paternity leave rules that have failed to keep pace with wider changes to employment law.

Since April 2026, the Employment Rights Act has given employees a day one entitlement to unpaid paternity leave. Police officers, however, remain subject to a qualifying period. They must have completed 26 weeks’ service by the 15th week before their baby is due to be eligible.

Officers can take one or two consecutive weeks of leave within 56 days of a birth or adoption, with forces required to pay at least Statutory Paternity Pay. While some forces provide enhanced pay, there is no consistent national policy.

Police Federation Deputy National Secretary Mel Warnes said the difference between statutory employment rights and police leave entitlements had become “impossible to defend”. She said: “Officers are being held to rules that belong to another era.”

The position is better in South Yorkshire Police, where policies are “fairly modern and reflective”, Federation Chairman Steve Kent said. However, he added there is still room for improvement.

“We consistently try to hold the force to account on this. But I think nationally there need to be changes to the regulations to make them more supportive of officers. There needs to be a national drive for regulatory change, rather than the piecemeal approach we have currently.

“Some forces have policies like ours, while others are more generous. It needs to be standardised nationally in a move that would level everyone up,” he added.