SOUTH Yorkshire Police is having to play a waiting game when it comes to Brexit, but measures are in place whatever happens over the next few months.<\/p>\n
Steve Kent, South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair, said the force had so far taken a \u2018common sense and proportionate\u2019 response to planning for issues which might arise once Brexit has been decided.<\/p>\n
That has included placing an embargo on leave requests, although officers can still take time off provided its ratified by the force central duties board.<\/p>\n
It will potentially be having to police other parts of the country rather than their leave requests which will have the biggest impact on officers, Steve believes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe leave embargo has been extended [until the end of April] which unfortunately has to reflect the state of uncertainty in Parliament at the minute,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, it\u2019s a bit of \u2018bear with\u2019 really. The force is taking a much more common-sense approach and just putting leave restrictions in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cOfficers can still apply for leave, it just has to go through to our central duties board. They\u2019ve kept the date of the embargo from the 29th<\/sup>, which is a bit regrettable. But they\u2019re going to do that until the back end of April and see where we go.\u201d<\/p>\n Further Brexit delays will only add to the uncertainty, he said, while the test will come if and when a date is set.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the testing time is going to be if it\u2019s delayed again or if \u00a0and when we get a specific date that we actually are leaving once it\u2019s agreed in parliament.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s that going to look like for officers in terms of really being pulled around the country? I think that\u2019s more the uncertainty, rather than the leave situation.\u201d<\/p>\n