Paid paternity leave for police officers in England and Wales is set to double from one week to two under the new Labour government led by Prime Minister Andy Burnham. The change follows reports that officers were “mocked and ostracised” for taking time off to care for their newborns.
New Leave Rules Across All Forces
Birmingham MP Shabana Mahmood, who serves in the government, has increased the amount of paid parental and adoption leave for officers across all forces. The measure applies to both police constabularies in England and Wales, ensuring uniform access to the extended benefit.
Policing minister Sarah Jones confirmed the policy in comments to the Guardian, stating: “Police officers work tirelessly to protect the public, so it is right that new fathers are better supported to spend time with their families. By expanding police paternity leave, we are recognising the importance of family life.”
Campaigners and Peers Push for Further Gains
The move comes as part of a broader momentum for enhanced paternity rights. Conservative Party peer Joanna Penn has tabled an amendment to the armed forces bill that would triple paternity leave to six weeks for serving military personnel. Penn argued: “We ask so much of our military families. The least we can do is give new fathers the chance to properly support their partners and bond with their babies.”
Joel Brady, a police inspector who was part of the campaign for extended leave, welcomed the new policy. He said it would give thousands of fathers in the police more “precious time” with their babies. “This is a massively positive step and great news for policing fathers who want to be there for their partners and involved in their children’s lives,” Brady added. “I’m optimistic that the government will now listen to dads and increase the amount of leave available to all of us.”
Broader Public Sector Review Underway
George Gabriel, a co-founder of The Dad Shift, a campaign group, highlighted the wider context. “Times are changing. This is the most active generation of dads there’s ever been and momentum is clearly building across the public sector for better paternity leave,” he said. Gabriel also referenced an ongoing government review of parental leave, which is due to conclude later this year. He expressed hope that the administration would build on its actions for police families, stating: “If Andy Burnham wants to prove his is a cost of living government then, as their review of parental leave concludes later this year, we hope they’ll get alongside working families at one of the moments that matters the most.”
The doubling of police paternity leave marks a concrete step in addressing the challenges faced by new fathers in the force. With the armed forces amendment pending and a broader parental leave review expected, further changes could follow for other public sector workers in the coming months.
