How Can We Help?
4.2 OVERNIGHT ALLOWANCES
(a) Other than the Minimum Standards Allowance which will apply to officers of the federated ranks on residential training (with the exception of probationer training), these arrangements do not apply to officers of the federated or superintending ranks who, as a consequence of attending a seminar or conference (in any capacity) or a training course as a candidate, are unable to return home.
(b) These arrangements do not remove the entitlements for members of the federated ranks to ordinary payments, including overtime at the appropriate rates when deployed. It should be noted that the time spent travelling to and from the places where the officers will be disrupted overnight needs to be counted as duty hours.
(c) The arrangements only apply where an officer is deployed within Scotland or elsewhere within the UK.
4.2.1 Overnight Disruption Allowance
(a) Where an officer (constable to chief superintendent) is required to work away from their usual place of duty and as a consequence is either practically unable or is prevented from returning home they will receive an Overnight Disruption Allowance.
(b) These arrangements do not apply to officers as a consequence of attending a seminar or conference (in any capacity) or a training course as a candidate.
(c) To minimise the overnight disruption of police officers all viable alternatives which meet the needs of the deployment must be exhausted prior to requiring officers to be away from home overnight.
(d) This allowance is not applicable to officers as a result of planned temporary transfers.
(e) For the current rate of the allowance (see section 4.12).
4.2.2 Additional Disruption Allowance
(a) This allowance is provided where an officer of the federated ranks is entitled to the Overnight Disruption Allowance and
- operational imperatives, exceptional geographic factors or safety or security considerations necessitate restrictions being placed on the officers activities whilst off duty, or
- the officer is required to be available for recall to duty at any time during this period.
(b) Wherever practically able to do so, Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation will agree on whether exceptional geographic factors would necessitate restrictions being placed on an officer’s activities whilst off duty, in advance of any police officer deployments.
(c) In order to be available for recall to duty, officers must remain within reasonable travelling distance of their place of work, must be contactable by telephone and be able to resume duty at short notice. They must be fit and able to be deployed for the full range of operational duties.
(d) For the current rate of the allowance (see section 4.12).
4.2.3 Minimum Standards (of Accommodation) Allowance
(a) Where an officer of the federated ranks is entitled to the Overnight Disruption Allowance they will be provided with appropriate accommodation for each night they are away from home.
(b) Minimum standard means accommodation must:
- be single occupancy with an en-suite bath or shower room, and
- have both hot and cold running water, and
- have clean linen and towels, and
- be capable of maintaining a reasonable and comfortable living environment.
(c) Where the accommodation does not meet this minimum standard, and efforts to rectify any issue have been exhausted, an officer of the federated ranks shall be entitled to this allowance.
(d) Wherever practically able to do so, Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Federation will agree on the appropriateness of accommodation of any police officer deployments.
(e) For the current rate of the allowance (see section 4.12).
(f) The Minimum Standards Allowance cannot be claimed due to the lack of en-suite facilities in Nelson Street, Aberdeen. A bespoke exemption is in place for this accommodation when it is being used by candidates on residential training courses.