Police guides · officers in England and Wales
TOIL for police officers
You can take overtime as time off instead of pay. You get the overtime back, plus 15 minutes for every completed 45 minutes, if you choose before the end of the pay period.
These are the national rules for full-time constables and sergeants. Inspectors and above, part-time officers and police staff have different rules. Your force may also have local agreements.
How much you get back
TOIL is the overtime that counts, plus 15 minutes for every completed 45 minutes of it.
| Overtime that counts | TOIL |
|---|---|
| 45 minutes | 1 hour |
| 1 hour 30 minutes | 2 hours |
| 2 hours 15 minutes | 3 hours |
| 3 hours | 4 hours |
At every completed 45 minutes that's a third extra, the same as overtime paid at time and a third. Minutes past the last completed 45 come back one for one.
The 30-minute rule still applies
"Overtime that counts" means after the same rules as paid overtime. If you weren't told at the start of your shift, the first 30 minutes come off on your first four late finishes that week. How the 30-minute rule works.
Example: you stay 90 minutes after a Late, not told, first late finish that week. 30 minutes come off, so 60 minutes count. 60 minutes holds one completed 45, which adds 15 minutes: 1 hour 15 minutes of TOIL.
Example: you were told at the start of your shift and stayed 1 hour 30 minutes. All of it counts, which holds two completed 45s: 2 hours of TOIL.
When to choose it
You have to choose TOIL instead of pay before the end of the pay period the overtime falls in. After that, it's paid as overtime. How you make the choice depends on your force's system, so check with your duties office.
Getting the time back
Your force should give you the time off within 3 months, as far as the needs of duty allow. Keep your own record of what you've earned and what you've taken, so you can spot TOIL that's gone missing.
Pay or TOIL?
Both give you about a third extra, so it comes down to what you need more of:
- Pay goes through payroll, so it's taxed and counts towards your earnings for that month.
- TOIL gives you time, which matters more if you're short of rest days or saving up for a long weekend.
One hour of overtime that counts, at pay point 7 (£50,256 a year), is £32.22 before tax, or 1 hour 15 minutes of TOIL.
TOIL for rest days and holidays
Rest days worked at short notice and public holidays have their own time-off rules. Within 28 days you can choose time off at time and a half for a rest day, or double the time for a public holiday. Quick regs covers both.
Where this comes from
- Annex G paragraphs 1(e) and 1(f) (TOIL instead of overtime pay), from the determinations under the Police Regulations 2003, GOV.UK.
- Police Regulations 2003, regulation 25 (legislation.gov.uk).
- Annex H (time off for rest days and public holidays), GOV.UK.
This is general guidance, not legal or financial advice, and it isn't a decision by your force. If something matters, check it with your Federation rep.
Your TOIL balance, kept for you
SHFTRS works out the TOIL on every late finish, keeps a running balance of what you've earned and taken against your rota, and shows it next to the pay option. It's built by police, for police.