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C. RECALL TO DUTY BETWEEN TWO ROSTERED PERIODS OF DUTY
Section 2.3 & 2.4 of the Police Officer Handbook
A recall to duty, in this context, is a period of extra duty separate and identifiable from another rostered tour. In other words, it is like an island of time in between two tours of duty. There may be occasions where an officer is recalled to duty in the first instance but the period of overtime runs into another tour of duty or a non-working day. These scenarios are covered elsewhere in this document as an advancement of start time or a requirement to work on any type of day.
| Scenario | Entitlement |
| Recalled to duty between 2300 and 0700 not required to attend a police station, police incident, or court | Minimum one hour payment or TOIL at time and a third. |
| Recalled to duty between 2300 and 0700 required to attend a police station, police incident, or court | Minimum four hours’ payment or TOIL at time and a third and relevant travelling time. |
| Recalled to duty between 0700 and 2300 | Payment or TOIL for each completed period of 15 minutes worked at time and a third and relevant travelling time where applicable. |
Key Elements:
- Applies to constables and sergeants.
- Compensation can be payment or time off in lieu at the officer’s choice.
- Officers of the rank of inspector and above have no entitlement to overtime payment or to accrue TOIL under these circumstances. However, part-time officers of any rank are entitled to claim payment or TOIL at plain time for additional hours worked up to 40 hours in the relevant week.
- Relevant travelling time of 45 minutes each way will only be paid in full if the total time claimed does not exceed 6 hours i.e. If 5.5 hours worked, only 0.5 hours travelling time is paid.
- The chief constable can recall an officer to duty or require that officer to work at any time.
- A recall to duty will almost always result from an exigency of duty. In this context, the term recall to duty should be interpreted as relating to a situation where a pressing demand, need or requirement is perceived that is not reasonably avoidable and necessitates an officer being recalled to duty.
- ‘Recall’ does not include the notification of a requirement to work.
- The following examples clarify the minimum entitlement where a recall to duty commences before but continues beyond the two threshold of 2300 and 0700. In both scenarios, it is the initial time of the recall to duty which the key factor in determining the minimum level of compensation.
- Example 1: Officer is recalled to duty at 2245 but works through to 2330. The officer will be entitled to payment or TOIL for 45 minutes at time and a third.
- Example 2: Officer is recalled to duty at 0630 but works through to 0715 (which is also a working day). The officer will be entitled to payment or TOIL for a minimum of 4 hours at time and a third.