Police overtime is governed by Regulation 26 of the Police Regulations 2003. Officers ranks Constable through Inspector are eligible; Chief Inspector and above generally don't get standard overtime payments.
Three standard multipliers:
- Time-and-a-third (1.333×) — standard overtime, e.g. staying on after your shift, attending court or other authorised duties beyond rostered hours.
- Time-and-a-half (1.5×) — rest day working with less than 15 days' notice. (With 15+ days' notice, you typically get a rest day in lieu instead of cash.)
- Double time (2.0×) — public holiday working, and some short-notice recalls.
Officers can usually opt for Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) instead of cash payment, at the same multiplier. So a public-holiday overtime hour earns either 2 hours of cash or 2 hours of TOIL.
The calculator handles standard time-and-a-third overtime and rest-day time-and-a-half via the Overtime section. Enter your typical monthly overtime hours and choose the multiplier; the calculator computes annualised gross overtime and includes it in your take-home estimate.
Because overtime is non-pensionable, it behaves differently from basic pay in the take-home calculation: no pension contribution is deducted, but the whole amount is exposed to income tax and National Insurance. For officers whose basic pay sits just below the higher-rate threshold, the practical effect is that the first slice of overtime is worth noticeably more per hour after deductions than the slices that follow it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the police overtime rate?
Time-and-a-third (1.333× hourly basic) for standard overtime — staying on after shift, court attendance, authorised duties beyond rostered hours. Time-and-a-half (1.5×) on rest days, double time (2.0×) on public holidays.
Who is eligible for police overtime?
Constable, Sergeant, Inspector — the federated ranks. Chief Inspector and above are generally not eligible for standard overtime under Regulation 26, though specific force arrangements vary for major-incident command.
Can I take time off instead of overtime pay?
Yes — Time Off In Lieu (TOIL) is usually an option at the same multiplier as the cash payment. So a public-holiday overtime hour earns either 2 hours of cash or 2 hours of TOIL.
What happens if my rest day is cancelled?
If you receive 15 or more days' notice, you typically just get a substitute rest day later — no cash payment. If less than 15 days' notice, you're paid time-and-a-half for the hours worked, or can opt for TOIL at 1.5×.
How much can a typical officer earn from overtime?
Varies enormously by role, force and shift pattern. Investigation officers, response, and specialist roles often work 5–20 paid overtime hours per month. At £19.92/hr (PC P1 standard OT rate), 10 hours/month adds £2,390/year gross. The calculator lets you enter your actual monthly hours and multiplier.
Is police overtime pensionable?
No. Overtime does not count towards pensionable pay in the police pension schemes, so it does not increase your contribution or your eventual benefits. That is why overtime lifts take-home pay proportionally more than an equivalent rise in basic pay would â there is no pension deduction taken from it.
How is tax worked out on police overtime?
Overtime is taxed as ordinary earnings through PAYE, at whatever your marginal rate is once it is added to basic pay. For an officer near the £50,270 higher-rate threshold that matters: the first part of a large overtime payment may be taxed at 20% and the rest at 40%, which is why a month with heavy overtime can feel disappointing on the payslip.
Does overtime affect National Insurance?
Yes, and not in the way most people expect. National Insurance is calculated on each pay period separately rather than annually, so a single month with a lot of overtime can push that month's earnings above the upper earnings limit, where the rate drops from 8% to 2%. Spreading the same overtime across several months usually costs slightly more in National Insurance overall.