Police Overtime Pay
Explained in the UK
Independent, plain-English guidance on overtime multipliers, rest day working, public holiday pay and how deductions affect your take-home.
Trust Notice: Independent explanatory guidance. Based on Police Regulations 2003.
Updated: 2 April 2026
Executive Summary
Complexity often disguises the simple fact: Multipliers are fixed, but net pay varies by tax bracket.
Key Takeaways
- Fixed Multipliers: 1.33× is standard. 1.5× for Rest Days (<15 days notice). 2.0× for Public Holidays.
- Tax Impact: Overtime is taxed at your marginal rate (likely 20% or 40%), plus NI.
- No Pension Cost: Overtime is NOT pensionable. You keep the 12-14% usually deducted for pension.
The Legal Framework: Annex U
Annex U of Police Regulations 2003 governs all overtime. It distinguishes between "Casual" and "Planned" overtime, but for most unplanned extensions to a shift, the rate is effectively the same.
Casual Overtime
Worked directly after a rostered shift without prior notice. If <15 mins, no pay. If >15 mins, paid for each completed 15 min period at 1.33×.
Planned Overtime
Agreed in advance. Paid at 1.33×. If you are recalled to duty between shifts, stricter minimum hours apply.
Common Overtime Multipliers
Standard rate for extended shifts and planned operations.
Rest Day Working with <15 days notice.
Public Holidays (and some historic recall scenarios).
Worked Example
A Sergeant at Pay Point 4 (approx £51k) has an hourly base rate of roughly £24.50. At 1.33×, this becomes £32.58 per hour.
How Hourly Rate Is Calculated
Your overtime hourly rate is derived from your basic annual salary. Importantly, regional allowances (like London Weighting) are generally excluded. It is purely your national pay spine point.
Payroll uses a standard 40-hour divisor, even if your variable shift arrangement differs.
(2080 = 52 weeks × 40 hours)
Why Take-Home Pay Feels Lower
Overtime is paid on top of your salary, meaning it is taxed at your highest marginal rate.
Warning: If overtime pushes your 'Adjusted Net Income' over £60,000, you may be liable for the High Income Child Benefit Charge.
Rest Day Returns & Cancellation
< 15 Days Notice
Entitled to compensation at 1.5× (Time and a Half). You can usually choose between payment or Time Off in Lieu (TOIL).
> 15 Days Notice
No financial compensation. Your rest day is simply re-rostered to another date.
Want to understand the bigger picture of police compensation?
Explore Pay & Earnings HubPublic Holiday Working
Working on a designated Public Holiday attracts a Double Time (2.0×) payment.
If the Public Holiday falls on your Rest Day, your Rest Day moves, and if you work it, you get the enhanced rate.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is police overtime paid at?
It depends on the notice given. Planned overtime is typically paid at time and a third (1.33x). Casual overtime (short notice) is also 1.33x but with a higher minimum if less than 15 minutes. Rest day working is generally time and a half (1.5x) if less than 15 days' notice is given.
Do police officers get double time?
Double time (2.0x) is generally reserved for working on a designated Public Holiday or for working on a Rest Day with very short notice (under certain historical regulations, though 1.5x is standard for most rest day cancellations now).
Why is my overtime taxed so high?
Overtime is added to your top slice of income. If you are a basic rate taxpayer, you pay 20% tax + NI. If your total earnings (salary + OT) push you into the higher rate bracket (over £50,270), your overtime is taxed at 40%, making the net amount feel lower.
Does overtime increase pension?
No. Under the 2015 CARE scheme (and previous schemes), overtime pay is not pensionable. You do not pay pension contributions on it, and it does not increase your retirement pot.
Is rest day working compulsory?
It can be. ‘Exigencies of duty’ allow forces to cancel rest days. If you are mandated to work, you must be compensated (pay or time off in lieu). If you volunteer to work a rest day, the compensation rules may differ depending on force policy.