BRITISH
TRANSPORT
POLICE
ROSTER AGREEMENT BETWEEN BTP AND
THE BTP FEDERATION
The following agreement relates to roster patterns and the steps required to implement
changes to meet the operational requirements of the Force. This agreement came into
force on 7 June 2012 and supersedes all previous agreements (except for that governed
by the Working Time Regulations).
t. Consultation
1.1 It was determined following the Winsor Review that with effect from 1 April 2012, the
obligation upon BTP was to engage in a process of meaningful consultation on rosters;
the consultation process will be as follows:
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The Chief Officer (or their delegated representative e.g. Area Commander,
Head of Department) will consult with the Area Committee and Officers
affected on the proposal to introduce an Alternative Roster. The consultation to
change rosters should only be made after full consideration of welfare and
personal circumstances as well as operational and practical circumstances.
• The members affected will be granted a period of at least 30 days to make
representations to the Area Commander or Head of Department following the
initial consultation.
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Following their consideration of the representations, the Area Commander or
Head of Department will announce their intention to bring the new shift
arrangement into operation at least 30 days after their announcement.
• These time periods may be shortened by mutual agreement with the Area
Committee.
2. ROSTER PATTERNS
2.1 Standard Roster
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Standard hours of duty are 40 hours per week, which may include Sunday. A normal tour
of duty being 8 hours. Each week comprising of 5 days of duty each 8 hours. The
definition of a day is the period beginning and ending at 07:00 hours.
2.2
Alternative Roster
An alternative shift system allows the standard 40 hour with 2 rest days in the week to be
varied over the roster cycle.
2.3 Features Common to both Rosters
2.3.1 No more than 7 consecutive days can be rostered - on a standard roster, 6
consecutive days on a variable roster.
2.3.2 There must be a minimum of 11 hours rest between shifts unless otherwise agreed
by Area Committee subject to an equivalent period of compensatory rest.
2.3.3 The roster will set out, for a period of at least three months, the time at which each
scheduled daily period of duty begins and ends, the assigned rest days, Public Holidays
on which officers are expected to work and for part-time officers, their free days.
2.3.4 Rest days leading into or out of a period (5 days or more) of annual leave should
not be altered unless exceptional demand upon the Force requires it e.g. a major
incident.
2.3.5 Shift patters should run with the clock i.e. earlies, !ates and nights. Short cycle shift
working should be discouraged.
2.3.6 There should normally be no more than four consecutive nights (alternative roster
only).
2.3.7 Rest days should be rostered no less than two together.
2.3.8 Where alterations are made to a duty roster after its publication these changes
should arise from the exigencies of duty (unless they are made at· the officer's own
request or have otherwise been subject to consultation with the Federation Area
Committee). The term 'exigencies of duty' should be interpreted as relating to situations
where a pressing demand, need or requirement is perceived that is not reasonably
· avoidable and necessitates a change of roster. In this context the word 'pressing' relates
to the expected situation at the time when the duty roster is changed, i.e. the reason for a
. change may be known many months in advance but still be pressing (PNB 86/9).
2.3.9 Decisions to change rosters should not be based purely on financial grounds. Since
rosters are produced 3 monthly, a .number of unforeseen reasons for changes may
subsequently arise. It is clearly not possible to produce an exhaustive list of all of the
potential reasons which may necessitate changes. However, by way of example,
changes to rostered duties would be justified by unforeseen public disorder situations,
Court attendance and essential training. An officer should be told as soon as the
requirement for the change is known and at the latest by midnight on the calendar day
before the changed period of duty commences. (PNB 86/9)
2.3.10 Rest days should not normally be rostered on a day which is a public holiday (from
2013, this will refer to nominated Public Holidays). Where this happens the rest day must
be moved to another day.
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2.3.11 Officers will be requested to elect their public holidays for the coming leave year in
line with the planning cycle. Operational needs may dictate that limits are placed on leave
for Public Holidays for which minimum resource levels are required. These may include
New Years' Eve, Notting Hill Carnival, major sporting events, government summits and
other incidents covered by the term 'exigencies'. On such occasions, leave may be limited
but full clarification of this will be given at the appropriate time. Where some (or no)
elected public holidays are put forward by an officer, normal public holidays will apply on
the remaining days (or throughout the year)
2.3.12 Duty rosters must take into account foreseen major events. As soon as they
become known, BTP will publish calendars of such events for planning purposes.
2.3.13 An officer may not exceed an average of 48 hours per week over the agreed 26
week reference period (Working Time Regulations). An officer choosing to opt out of the
maximum working week restrictions must complete WT01 Form. They may revoke this
form at anytime by giving six weeks notice in writing.
2.3.14 12 hour shift patterns are not recommended for reasons of health and safety.
2.3.15 An officer should not work more than 12 turns of duty over a 14-day period.
2.3.16 Bank/Public Holidays - Where officers are booked off duty in respect of Bank/
Public Holiday this will be treated as a day for a day for OMS recording regardless of
the roster patterns.
CHANGING ROSTERS
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Standard Roster
3.1Changes to a standard roster can be made, following consultation at Area Committee,
and implemented giving 28 days' notice. Due regards should be given .to pre-planned
leave and other commitments since rosters are published for a minimum of three month
periods.
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Alternative Shift Systems
(Change from Standard to Alternative Roster)
4. 1The Alternative shift system may be proposed by any of a wide range of officers from
within the Area I Department e.g. Area Commander, Line Manager or an individual
officer. Any proposed roster changes must be acceptable
to the Area
Commander/BTP Strategic Command Team.
4.2 All proposals should be discussed with all officers likely to be affected by the shift
change; this will include those who are known to be transferring in to the unit where a
roster change is being proposed.
4.2 Annual leave I hours
Where officers are working an alternative roster, annual leave for OMS purpose will
be recorded in hours based on a day being equivalent to 8 hours.
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5.1 Inspecting ranks are governed by the following guidelines which were introduced as
part of the Police Regulations 1994.
5.2 It is not intended to have longer hours worked by fewer officers.
5.3 Subject to the need to provide 24-hour duty officer cover, inspecting ranks working
extended hours should be afforded the flexible approach towards the working week
that is currently available to Superintendent ranks. TjJ.iS s b pemlii;tefl j<l'iaJ<e
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5.41n determining whether an inspecting rank has worked excessively long hours, Line
Managers should consider the normal working day to be not more than 8 hours and
the normal working week to be not more than 40 hours. Whilst inspecting ranks will
still be required to work in excess of 8 hours when necessary, this provision should not
be abused and the practice should not be permitted to become regular or
institutionalised.
5.5 Inspecting ranks who are required to work a days duty on a day previously granted as
a rest day should be considered to have attended a working day and during the
following 12 months shall , subject to exigencies of duty, be granted an additional rest
day.
5.6 Inspecting ranks who are required to do a days' duty on a public holiday shall be
granted a days' leave in lieu of each such day (unless the exigencies of duty do not
permit such a grant) within 12 months.
5.? Inspecting ranks refreshment breaks to be taken at a time and · of a duration
compatible with the effective performance of their duties.
5.8 Inspecting ranks will continue to be entitled to
allowances based on a working day of 8 hours.
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subsistence
and
refreshment
Di.!ration of Rosters
The introduction of a new roster should be agreed for a minimum period of 12 months.
Should it become apparent that the roster is not viable to staff or official sides then should be
reviewed. This does not preclude the earlier implementation of the roster by mutual
agreement of those concerned.
This agreement is duly signed and effective from 7 June 2012
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erector of
orporate Resources, 8 I P
General Secretary, BTPF
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