The Police Regulations 2003

[^key-d6b38f63c557b213949f95e6793523c3]: Reg. 24(1)(b) applied (with modifications) (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 33(2), Sch. 5 para. 47(3)

[^key-00a67736b56646eaa1dada67283f9fac]: Reg. 7(7)(a) applied (with modifications) (20.12.2023) by The York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority Order 2023 (S.I. 2023/1432), arts. 1(2), 33(2), Sch. 5 para. 47(2)

[^key-1e74b4175541bf0a5e5f7ffe0b0384c7]: Reg. 12(1) substituted (28.5.2025) by The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/558), regs. 1(1), 3

[^key-317f8a1aac3ba366ce61c286be2877c7]: Words in reg. 13(1) inserted (28.5.2025) by The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/558), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(a)

[^key-cb2b86b8929bebd849f0002388741aa0]: Word in reg. 13(1) substituted (28.5.2025) by The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/558), regs. 1(1), 4(2)(b)

[^key-4e9db7f6476e39063073f3d092bf375b]: Words in reg. 13(3) inserted (28.5.2025) by The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/558), regs. 1(1), 4(3)

[^key-50462debe8c7085978daa79d68987eec]: Reg. 13(5)-(7) inserted (28.5.2025) by The Police (Conduct, Performance and Complaints and Misconduct) (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/558), regs. 1(1), 4(4)

[^key-9dcc81dc6f6256cb1378935d8a286b42]: Words in reg. 5(1) omitted (29.12.2025) by virtue of The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1274), regs. 1(1), 3(a)

[^key-915662e3d5dfabddb444f68f1f6373f4]: Reg. 5(7) omitted (29.12.2025) by virtue of The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1274), regs. 1(1), 3(b)

[^key-85e1b050da7fb30ea3fb1adde4cb8c5c]: Word in reg. 33(2)(a) substituted (29.12.2025) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1274), regs. 1(1), 4(a)

[^key-3e92465c855638c195a509e266c9cce2]: Word in reg. 33(2)(b) substituted (29.12.2025) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1274), regs. 1(1), 4(b)(i)

[^key-3a9a5c5a101c0308a1d6b083a57ef579]: Words in reg. 33(2)(b) substituted (29.12.2025) by The Police (Amendment) Regulations 2025 (S.I. 2025/1274), regs. 1(1), 4(b)(ii)

[^key-a447200b50bdc2e384134ab0eeb4d2ff]: Reg. 10(1)(eb) inserted (17.3.2026) by The Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/154), regs. 1(1), 4(a)

[^key-7ddfca4c6bd0228d3531871da298d38c]: Reg. 10(3)(aab) inserted (17.3.2026) by The Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/154), regs. 1(1), 4(b)

[^key-62d36d036bd56a38391dc6f0d54134cb]: Reg. 10(3)(aba)-(abc) inserted (17.3.2026) by The Police (Amendment) (Recruitment Standards) Regulations 2026 (S.I. 2026/154), regs. 1(1), 4(c)

Testing for substance misuse

19A

• (1) The chief officer of a police force may require any member of the force who—

• (a) gives the chief officer reasonable cause to suspect that he has used a controlled drug;

• (b) is on a period of probation under regulation 10B or 12;

• (c) has been identified by the chief officer as being vulnerable because of a specific responsibility for dealing with drugs; or

• (d) is selected in accordance with a regime of routine random testing;

to give a sample of oral fluid or urine to be tested for evidence of controlled drugs in accordance with procedures determined by the Secretary of State.

• (2) The chief officer of a police force may require a member of the force who—

• (a) gives the chief officer reasonable cause to suspect that the member is under the influence of alcohol while on duty; or

• (b) is selected in accordance with a regime of routine random testing,

to give a sample of breath to be tested for evidence of alcohol in accordance with procedures determined by the Secretary of State.

• (3) A member of a police force who—

• (a) on giving a sample under paragraph (1) is found to have taken a controlled drug specified in a determination of the Secretary of State; or

• (b) ... on giving a sample under paragraph (2), is found to have more than 13 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath

shall face such consequences as are specified in that determination.

Reckoning of service in the Royal Parks Constabulary

41A

• (1) Where a member of a police force joined or rejoined that force after having left the Royal Parks Constabulary, on or after 1st July 2004 then, for the purposes of regulation 24, his service in any rank in the Royal Parks Constabulary shall be treated as if it were service in the corresponding rank in the police force he joined or rejoined as aforesaid:

• Provided that in the case of a member of a police force of a rank higher than that of chief inspector this paragraph shall have effect subject to any contrary agreement.

• (2) A member of a police force of the rank of constable shall be entitled to reckon, for the purposes of pay for that rank, any period of service in the Royal Parks Constabulary not reckonable under paragraph (1).

• (3) In this regulation, any reference to a rank corresponding to a rank in a police force is a reference to a rank in the Royal Parks Constabulary designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes hereof as the rank corresponding to the rank in question.

Reckoning by constables of service in certain constabularies

Reckoning of service in an airport constabulary

Reckoning by constables of overseas police service

Modification of compensatory allowance

8

• (1) This paragraph applies to a member whose entitlement to a replacement allowance is calculated in whole or in part by reference to the rate at which he was in receipt of a compensatory allowance under regulation 52B of the 1987 Regulations.

• (2) This paragraph also applies to a member who would be entitled to a replacement allowance calculated in whole or in part by reference to the rate at which he would have been in receipt of a compensatory allowance under regulation 52B of the 1987 Regulations had that regulation provided as set out in paragraph (3) before 1st September 1994.

• (3) A member to whom this paragraph applies is entitled to a replacement allowance calculated as if for regulation 52B of the 1987 Regulations there were substituted the following regulation—

(52B) (1) This regulation applies where two or more persons, each of whom is a member of a police force, are living in the same accommodation and at least one of them is appointed to perform part-time service. (2) Where this regulation applies those persons are entitled to a compensatory allowance of a proportion of the appropriate amount determined in accordance with guidance issued by the Secretary of State. (3) Where there are only two persons living in the same accommodation and only one of them is appointed to perform part-time service, the appropriate amount is given by the formula $(A+B)−(C+D)$ where— A is the notional amount for the time being of any allowances that were payable under regulations 49 to 51 to the full-time member before the part-time member’s appointment as such, B is the notional amount for the time being of any allowances that were then so payable to the part-time member, C is the amount for the time being of any allowances that are so payable to the full-time member, D is the amount for the time being of any allowances that are so payable to the part-time member. (4) Where there are only two persons living in the same accommodation and each of them is appointed to perform part-time service, the appropriate amount is given by the formula $(A+B)−(C+D)$ where— A is the notional amount for the time being of any allowances that were payable under regulations 49 to 51 to one of the members (the “first part-time member”) before his appointment as such, B is the notional amount for the time being of any allowances that were then so payable to the other member, C is the amount for the time being of any allowances that are so payable to the first part-time member, D is the amount for the time being of any allowances that are so payable to the other member. (5) Where there are more than two persons living in the same accommodation, the appropriate amount is given by the formula $A−B$ where— A is the aggregate notional amount for the time being of any allowances that were payable under regulations 49 to 51 to those members before the appointment of one of them as a part-time member, B is the aggregate amount for the time being of any allowances that are so payable to those members. (6) For the purposes of this regulation the notional amount for the time being of an allowance is the amount that would for the time being be payable if the part-time member were a full-time member.

Removal of chief constable or commissioner or deputy commissioner of the metropolitan police

11A

• (1) If an elected local policing body is proposing to call on a member of a police force to retire or resign under section 38(3) or 48(3) of the 2011 Act, the body shall—

• (a) obtain the views of the chief inspector of constabulary in writing;

• (b) have regard to those written views;

• (c) give the member a copy of those written views at the time of giving the member a written explanation of the reasons why the body is proposing to call for the retirement or resignation in accordance with section 48(5)(a) of, or paragraph 13(2) of Schedule 8 to, the 2011 Act; and

• (d) if the body is a police and crime commissioner, give the police and crime panel a copy of those written views at the time of giving the panel a copy of the commissioner’s reasons in accordance with paragraph 13(3)(b) of that Schedule.

• (2) If, having complied with paragraph (1) of this regulation and paragraph 13 of Schedule 8 to the 2011 Act, a police and crime commissioner still proposes to call upon the chief constable to retire or resign, the commissioner shall, at the time of giving the chief constable and the police and crime panel notification of the commissioner’s intention in accordance with paragraph 14(2) of that Schedule —

• (a) give the chief constable and the panel a written explanation of the reasons why the commissioner still proposes to call for the retirement or resignation;

• (b) give the chief inspector of constabulary a copy of the notification and the explanation; and

• (c) give the chief executive appointed under paragraph 6(1)(a) of Schedule 1 to the 2011 Act a copy of the notification, the explanation and the written views of the chief inspector obtained in accordance with paragraph (1)(a) of this regulation.

Removal of other senior officers

11B

• (1) If a chief officer is proposing to call on a member of a police force to retire or resign under section 39(5), 40(4) or 49(3) of the 2011 Act, the chief officer shall—

• (a) notify the relevant elected local policing body of the proposal as soon as is practicable;

• (b) obtain the views of the chief inspector of constabulary in writing;

• (c) have regard to those written views; and

• (d) give the member a copy of those written views at the time of giving the member a written explanation of the reasons why the chief officer is proposing to call for the retirement or resignation in accordance with section 49(5)(a) of, or paragraph 19(2) of Schedule 8 to, the 2011 Act.

• (2) Paragraph (1)(a) is without prejudice to the duty of a chief constable to consult the relevant police and crime commissioner under paragraph 20(2) of Schedule 8 to the 2011 Act.

• (3) In addition to giving the member of the police force the opportunity to make written representations in accordance with section 49(5)(b) of, or paragraph 19(3) of Schedule 8 to, the 2011 Act, the chief officer shall give the member the opportunity to make oral representations at a meeting attended by the chief officer.

• (4) If, having complied with paragraphs (1) and (2) of this regulation and section 49(5) of, or paragraph 19 of Schedule 8 to, the 2011 Act, the chief officer still proposes to call on the member of the police force to retire or resign, the chief officer shall—

• (a) give the relevant elected local policing body—

• (i) a written explanation of the chief officer’s reasons, and

• (ii) a copy of the written views of the chief inspector of constabulary,

at the time of consulting that body in accordance with section 49(3) of, or paragraph 20(2) of Schedule 8 to, the 2011 Act; and

• (b) give a copy of the written explanation of the chief officer’s reasons to—

• (i) the member, and

• (ii) the chief inspector of constabulary.

Probationary service in the rank of constable

Discharge of probationer

Retirement

Contents of personal records

Transfer of personal records

Personal record of member leaving force

Fingerprints

Samples

Testing for substance misuse

Reckoning of service in SOCA

44A

• (1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a member of a police force joined or rejoined that force having been employed by NCA as a specified NCA officer and having left NCA, then for the purposes of regulation 24, service in any NCA grade shall be treated as if it were service in the corresponding rank in the police force the member joined or rejoined.

• (2) In this regulation, any reference to a NCA grade corresponding to a rank in a police force is a reference to a grade of an employee of NCA designated by the Secretary of State for the purposes of this regulation as the NCA grade corresponding to the rank in question.

Reduced arrears of replacement allowance for re-joining members in receipt of related allowances

9

• (1) This paragraph applies to a replacement allowance payable in respect of a relevant period to a member of a police force who—

• (a) is a re-joining member by reason of a relevant absence of a kind mentioned in paragraph 1(6)(d) or (e); and

• (b) received an allowance referred to in the determinations made by the Secretary of State under regulation 34(1) as a London Allowance or a South East England Allowance in respect of the relevant period.

• (2) The annual rate of a replacement allowance to which this paragraph applies shall be reduced—

• (a) in the case of a member who received a London Allowance, by an amount calculated by the formula A – B, where—

• (i) A is the annual rate at which the London Allowance was paid to the member; and

• (ii) B is the annual rate at which the London Allowance would have been paid to the member had it been known, at the time when the London Allowance was paid, that the member was entitled to receive a replacement allowance; and

• (b) in the case of a member who received a South East England Allowance, by the annual rate of that allowance.

• (3) For the purposes of this paragraph a relevant period is a period—

• (a) beginning on the day after the last day of the relevant absence; and

• (b) ending before 23rd February 2012.

Business interests of members of police forces: general

Business interests of members of police forces: notification and determination

Business interests of members of police forces: appeal

Business interest precluding appointment to a police force

9A

• (1) A candidate is not eligible for appointment to a police force if the candidate or a relative of the candidate has a business interest which is to be retained after appointment, unless the business interest is approved by the chief officer or, in the case of a candidate for appointment as chief officer, by the local policing body.

• (2) For the purposes of this regulation—

• (a) a person has a business interest if—

• (i) being a candidate for appointment to a police force, the person holds any office or employment for hire or gain or carries on any business, or

• (ii) being a candidate for appointment to a police force or a relative of a candidate, the person holds or possesses a pecuniary interest in a licence or permit granted in pursuance of the law relating to alcohol licensing, refreshment houses or betting and gaming or regulating places of entertainment in the area of the police force in question; and

• (b) “relative”, in relation to a candidate for appointment to a police force, means—

• (i) a spouse or civil partner who is not separated from the candidate,

• (ii) a person living with the candidate as if they were the candidate’s spouse or civil partner, or

• (iii) a parent, son, daughter, brother or sister of the candidate,

who is included in the candidate’s family.

Qualifications for appointment to a police force

Taking of fingerprints and samples prior to appointment to a police force

10A

• (1) Where a candidate for appointment to a police force is to be offered an appointment, the offer shall (unless the candidate is applying to transfer to the force from another police force or is a special constable for that or another police area) be subject to the following conditions—

• (a) the candidate is required to have fingerprints and a sample taken;

• (b) the candidate must consent to the fingerprints and sample taken being the subject of a speculative search; and

• (c) the chief officer must be satisfied that the candidate is suitable for appointment following the results of the speculative search.

• (2) In a case to which paragraph (1) applies, the candidate shall notify the chief officer in writing whether the candidate consents—

• (a) to the taking of fingerprints and a sample; and

• (b) to such fingerprints and sample being the subject of a speculative search.

• (3) Where a candidate is appointed as a member of a police force, upon appointment—

• (a) any fingerprints taken under paragraph (1) shall be treated as if they had been taken under regulation 18(1); and

• (b) any sample and any information derived from a sample taken under paragraph (1) shall be treated as if the sample had been taken under regulation 19(1).

• (4) In this regulation—

• “sample” has the same meaning as in regulation 19(4);

• “speculative search” has the same meaning as in Part V of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984.

Appointment of senior officers

Removal of chief constable or commissioner or deputy commissioner of the metropolitan police

Removal of other senior officers

Probationary service in the rank of constable

Discharge of probationer

Retirement

Contents of personal records

Transfer of personal records

Personal record of member leaving force

Fingerprints

Samples

Testing for substance misuse

Compensation lump sum on voluntary retirement

14A

• (1) Without prejudice to the Police Pensions Regulations, the Secretary of State may determine the circumstances in which a member of a police force is entitled to receive a payment on voluntary retirement from the police force (a “compensation lump sum”), and the amount of such compensation lump sum.

• (2) In making a determination under paragraph (1) the Secretary of State may confer such functions on—

• (a) the police pension authority (within the meaning of section 11(2) of the Police Pensions Act 1976); and

• (b) the pension supervising authority (within the meaning of that section),

in relation to compensation lump sums as he thinks fit.

Contents of personal records

Transfer of personal records

Personal record of member leaving force

Fingerprints

Samples

Testing for substance misuse

Reckoning of service in NCA

Member rejoining a police force

10B

• (1) This regulation applies to a person who is to be appointed as a member of a police force (“Force A”) and who—

• (a) has previously served as a member of a police force (whether Force A or another force) and has—

• (i) satisfactorily completed the period of probationary service in the rank of constable required under regulation 12 during that or another period of prior service, and

• (ii) resigned or retired from that force;

• (b) is not participating in the DE Inspector or DE Superintendent programmes;

• (c) is not transferred (for the purposes of regulation 2 (reference to transfers)) to Force A from another force, and

• (d) was not, immediately prior to the appointment—

• (i) on a secondment under regulation 13A (secondments);

• (ii) on a career break under regulation 33(12) (leave), or

• (iii) a member of a police force.

• (2) A person to whom this regulation applies—

• (a) must be appointed in a rank to be decided by the chief officer making the appointment;

• (b) must be on probation for such period as the Secretary of State shall determine in respect of such appointments.

• (3) In making a determination under paragraph (2)(b), the Secretary of State may, subject to paragraph (4), confer on the chief officer discretion to determine the required period of probation in a particular case.

• (4) For the purposes of a determination under paragraph (2)(b), the periods to be counted or disregarded in reckoning service shall be such as may be determined by the Secretary of State.

Appointment of senior officers

Removal of chief constable or commissioner or deputy commissioner of the metropolitan police

Removal of other senior officers

Probationary service in the rank of constable

Discharge of probationer

Secondments

13A

• (1) The Secretary of State shall determine the circumstances in which, and the terms on which, a member of a police force may undertake temporary service outside the police force which is not relevant service within the meaning of section 97 of the Act (police officers engaged on service outside their force).

• (2) A determination under paragraph (1)—

• (a) may confer such functions on the chief officer or any other person as the Secretary of State thinks fit;

• (b) shall not permit any period of temporary service to exceed five years; and

• (c) shall be without prejudice to any arrangement in place under which a member is undertaking temporary service outside the police force at the time paragraph (1) comes into force.

Retirement

Compensation lump sum on voluntary retirement

Contents of personal records

Transfer of personal records

Personal record of member leaving force

Fingerprints

Samples

Testing for substance misuse

Probationary service ...

Entitlement to pay when on adjusted duties

28A

The Secretary of State shall determine the reduction in entitlement to pay of a member of a police force during periods when that member is carrying out adjusted duties in accordance with a determination under regulation 22(1)(h), and in making such a determination the Secretary of State may confer on the chief officer discretion to allow a member of a police force to receive more pay than that specified in the determination.

Maternity pay

Fixing of pay day and calculation of monthly, weekly and daily pay

Deductions from pay of social security benefits and statutory sick pay

University scholars

Meetings of the Police Federation treated as police duty