OFFICERS are being encouraged to stop working for free outside of their duty hours as part of the ongoing Police Regulations \u201cDo it Right\u201d campaign.<\/p>\n
The rank and file are being urged to stand up for their rights in a campaign that has been described as \u201cnot working to rule but working to the rules\u201d. The campaign – begun by the Met Police Federation – is being supported by South Yorkshire Police Federation.<\/p>\n
Federations across the country have been urging their members to \u201cchallenge\u201d instructions that contradict Police Regulations, which includes carrying out unpaid work before and after their duty hours.<\/p>\n
The Federation said officers often feel they have to accept their managers\u2019 interpretation of regulations and, on some occasions, accept the \u201cblatant disregard\u201d of policies and procedures because they \u201cfear various forms of management if they ask for their entitlements\u201d.<\/p>\n
The \u201cDo it Right\u201d campaign initially launched in April 2012 in a bid to help officers understand their rights and ensure that managers adhere to them.<\/p>\n
Guidance on areas such as cancellation of rest days, vehicle safety inspections and taking radios home have been circulated. Other information has included overtime and use of dependents\u2019 days.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople should be paid for the hours they have worked,\u201d said a Federation spokesman.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the realisation of cuts, more and more people are being asked to work in environments that are below strength with fewer supervisors, fewer buildings and fewer staff.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not sustainable for officers to work extra hours that they are not being paid for. Now is the time for officers to stick up for their rights – otherwise they risk creating a culture of \u2018work for no pay\u2019 and people will start to break.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Federation acknowledged there will be emergency situations, known as \u201cexigencies\u201d, which override any consideration of officers’ rights and entitlements, but added that \u201call too often situations are being classified as an exigency when they are no such thing\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery crime report is \u2018urgent\u2019, every call \u2018an emergency\u2019, every target \u2018an essential\u2019. Well we all know that this simply isn\u2019t true and it is this culture which unfairly erodes your entitlements,\u201d said the Federation in a statement.<\/p>\n
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