Flexible Working in Policing — Reg 33 Explained
Police officers can request flexible working under Regulation 33. Forces must consider requests fairly. Common options include part-time, compressed hours, job shares, and adjusted shift patterns.
Unofficial independent resource — always verify with official sources (College of Policing, your force, PFEW).
Who this guide is for
- Officers with caring responsibilities
- Officers managing long-term health conditions
- Officers approaching retirement seeking phased reduction
- Officers needing study or family adjustments
What to do first
Sketch out what you want and why. Talk to your manager informally. Read your force flexible working policy.
Step-by-step guide
- 1
Identify what you actually need
Be specific — set days off, reduced hours, fixed-night patterns, etc. The clearer your ask, the easier the conversation.
- 2
Discuss informally first
Speak to your line manager. Many adjustments can be agreed informally without a formal Reg 33 request.
- 3
Submit a Reg 33 request in writing
Provide rationale, proposed pattern, start date, and impact mitigation (cover, handovers).
- 4
Negotiate constructively
Forces may counter-propose. Engage in writing through your rep if needed.
- 5
Document the outcome
Keep the written agreement on file. Review at agreed intervals.
Your rights
- Right to make a Reg 33 request
- Right to fair consideration of the request
- Right to written reasons for any refusal
- Right to appeal a refusal
- Right to PFEW support throughout
Common pitfalls to avoid
- Submitting a vague request
- Not offering practical cover solutions
- Treating refusal as final without appeal
- Negotiating without Federation input
When to get help
Federation rep if your request is refused or if the role/role rotation makes the request complex. ACAS for general principles.
Related templates & resources
Official sources
BlueLineHub is independent and unofficial. Always verify with the authoritative source below.
- Verify on official source
Police Regulations 2003 — Reg 33
Statutory basis for flexible working in policing
Last checked: May 2026 - Verify on official source
PFEW — Flexible Working Guidance
Federation guidance and support
Last checked: May 2026 - Verify on official source
ACAS — Flexible working
General workplace principles
Last checked: May 2026
Frequently asked questions
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