Paid police paternity leave to double after fathers reported being ‘ostracised’

Exclusive: Pay increases to two weeks in England and Wales after Guardian revealed officers ‘mocked’ for taking time off Paid paternity leave for police in England and Wales is to double, after the Guardian revealed last year that officers were “mocked and ostracised” for taking time off to spend with their babies. The home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has increased the amount of paid parental and adoption leave for officers from one week to two across all forces, with fathers’ leave upped to be in line with mothers’. Before the change, only a quarter of forces offered two weeks’ full pay, with others offering one week on full pay and the second week on statutory pay. This resulted in only 40% of officers in the latter group taking the second week’s leave, compared with 88% of those in the first group. Civilian staff in the Metropolitan police were entitled to three weeks’ paternity leave at full pay. The policing minister Sarah Jones said: “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 l