§ Mr. StunellTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans there are to recruit part-time police officers and to allow full-time officers to change to part-time if they wish to(a) before and (b) after they have completed 30 years service. [75317]
§ Mr. DenhamAll new recruits may apply to work part-time, as may established police officers of all ranks, regardless of whether officers have completed 30 years' service or not. Managers must give full consideration to all requests to change to part-time working, taking into account operational needs.
As part of the Police Negotiating Board (PNB) Agreement of 9 May, part-time working will be made easier for officers in all ranks, regardless of whether they have completed 30 years service or not. We plan to remove the current 16-hour a week minimum requirement for part-time working by 1 April 2003, together with the requirement for job sharing in respect of middle and senior ranks.