Key facts
- Paid paternity leave for police officers in England and Wales will increase from one week to two.
- The change aims to support new fathers in spending time with their families.
- Before the update, only 40% of officers took the second week of leave when it was paid at statutory rates.
- Campaigners are advocating for improved paternity leave across the public sector and military.
- The UK's statutory paternity leave is among the lowest in Europe.
Paid paternity leave for police officers in England and Wales is set to double to two weeks, following reports that officers were being "mocked and ostracised" for taking time off to be with their newborns. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has approved the increase in paid parental and adoption leave for all forces, aligning fathers' leave with that of mothers.
Previously, only a quarter of police forces offered new fathers two weeks of full pay, while others provided one week of full pay followed by a week on statutory pay. This disparity led to a significant drop in uptake, with only 40% of officers in the latter group taking the second week, compared to 88% in the former. Civilian staff within the Metropolitan police already had an entitlement of three weeks' paternity leave at full pay.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones stated that the expansion of paternity leave recognizes the importance of family life and better supports new fathers. The move has intensified pressure on the government to improve paternity leave provisions across the wider public sector. Campaigners are now pushing for enhanced leave for military fathers, with a Conservative peer proposing an amendment to triple paternity leave to six weeks for serving personnel.
Recent surveys highlight the inadequacy of current paternity leave offerings. A tri-forces survey found nearly 30% of military families were separated for over three months last year, and a campaign group's survey indicated that over 95% of serving parents felt the current offer was insufficient. Campaigners, supported by MPs, are advocating for six weeks of paternity leave at 90% of pay, noting that the UK's statutory paternity leave of two weeks at £184.03 per week is among the lowest in Europe.
Police inspector Joel Brady, who was involved in the campaign, expressed optimism that this change will provide thousands of fathers with more precious time with their babies and hopes for further improvements. Additionally, over 20 organizations, including a new group of Labour MPs, have urged Andy Burnham to commit to a "men and boys' agenda." This follows the government's launch of England's first men's health strategy and efforts to improve outcomes for men and boys, signaling a potential shift towards a more inclusive approach to supporting both genders.