PSNI Officers Work Unpaid Almost One Day a Month

Police officers in Northern Ireland work almost one day of unpaid overtime every month, according to the Police Federation.

The 'Goodwill Survey' carried out covered a period of three months.

It also found that six out of 10 officers surveyed had to rearrange childcare as a result of working overtime.

Working overtime also forced eight out of 10 to cancel or miss an appointment.

More than a fifth got less than eight hours sleep as a direct result of working overtime more than 20 times.

PFNI Chairman, Mark Lindsay, said: "The PSNI is under-resourced and under-staffed. The consequence of this is that officers are working flat out to keep the service ticking over. Indeed, over 90% said that even when they're off duty, they're answering calls on police-related matters.

"This highlights the level to which policing in NI has become reliant on the goodwill of Officers. Family life is severely disrupted. Plans are turned upside down and this causes disappointment and upset and puts family relationships under severe strain.

"As an unwelcome consequence, there is a rise in long-term sickness levels. In turn, that places even more pressure on Officers to plug gaping holes in the service. Reducing budgets and diminishing resources are the main causes for this degree of upheaval.

"All officers, from the Constable to the Chief Constable, have undoubted commitment to effective policing, but there are limits to the service that can be provided under these conditions.

"Ministers in the Executive must realise that service levels will deteriorate or fall short of what people have a right to expect if the budget continues to be attacked, and if the issues highlighted in this Survey are not addressed as a matter of urgency. They need to carefully think what they are doing, and what they want officers to deliver."

(CD/JP)