Excellence in Community Policing

Policing the Communities of the Highlands and Islands




Conditions of Service

Working Hours

Northern Constabulary operates a 35-hour week, exclusive of meal breaks. Some posts involve alternating or rotating shifts, including weekend working, particularly for Control Room, Custody Officers and Scenes of Crimes Officers, for which enhanced rates are payable.

Overtime

For staff in receipt of a basic salary not exceeding the maximum of SCP 28, overtime will be paid at the appropriate rates or equivalent time off given. In cases of planned overtime or in other exceptional circumstances, employees above the overtime bar may be eligible for compensatory time off or payment by prior arrangement and agreement.

Annual Leave/Holiday Entitlement

The basic annual entitlement is 20 days, which increases to 25 days after 5 years' reckonable service, provided the 5 years is completed prior to the beginning of the leave year. The leave year runs between 1 February and 31 January. Those staff who undertake fully rotational shift work are entitled to 25 days leave with 30 days leave on completion of 5 full years service.

In addition to service with Northern Constabulary, qualifying service for annual leave purposes include previous service with any local authority.

In addition to this there are 14 statutory public holidays, 8 of which are fixed, with the additional days (floating days) taken at the discretion of the Head of Department.

Method of Payment

Salary is paid monthly, in arrears, on the 27th of every month, or the Friday before if the 27th falls on a weekend. Payment is made by Bank Credit Transfer, direct to a nominated Bank Account.

Annual salary increments

An annual salary increment is applicable on the 1st April every year, provided a minimum of 6 months has been completed in post.

In addition to this a National Salary Award is negotiated annually and is normally effective from 1st September each year.