A\u00a0NEW campaign has been launched to help police officers better understand their basic rights and entitlements.<\/p>\n
The \u201cDid You Know?\u201d programme will focus on a key theme each month, such as annual leave, working hours and working away from home.<\/p>\n
Supported online by the hashtags #KnowYourRights and #DidYouKnow, the campaign will be updated monthly with graphics, posters and materials about matters on which officers have requested more information.<\/p>\n
The programme is being supported locally by South Yorkshire Police Federation. Chairman Steve Kent said: \u201cIt is vital that cops, supervisors and managers know what they\u2019re entitled to, not just the constables or sergeants themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe problem is that Police Regulations are hugely detailed and confusing to interpret. The federation\u2019s online quick guide is good – easier to digest and understand. But the further Know You Rights information will give it to officers more clearly and will make sure that officers are being paid and compensated fairly with overtime, when their leave or time off is cancelled. It is a good thing and I\u2019ll certainly be pushing it from our website and on our internal systems as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
John Apter, National Chair of Police Federation of England and Wales, which is leading the programme, said: \u201cEvery day officers across England and Wales go over and above the call of duty to protect the public. It\u2019s essential that they claim their basic entitlements – especially at a time when their hard work and dedication is not being recognised in their pay packets.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will continue to fight for members\u2019 best interests, but also hope this campaign will help officers to be aware of – and claim – what is rightfully theirs and help them to understand what support is out there.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers work tirelessly to help the public: that is what they signed up to do and will continue to do, but it is important that if their much-needed day off is cancelled, or they miss an important family event because of work they get that time back or are compensated for it. Being a police officer means other parts of your life are simply put on hold and we need to ensure they are fully supported.\u201d<\/p>\n
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