LANCASHIRE Constabulary has been told to change the way it records officers' hours after it fell foul of European legislation governing working practices.
The review has been ordered by the Health and Safety Executive after some officers complained about working excessive hours.
Health and Safety Executive bosses have given the constabulary until April 1 to make sure all staff are working in compliance with the European Working Time Directive.
The force's current methods of recording officers' hours do not show when they are in danger of exceeding the total number of hours allowed under the law, a requirement of the directive.
Lancashire is one of two forces to be told to change work recording methods. Warwickshire has until June to introduce new systems.
Under the legislation, introduced three years ago, officers and civilian staff cannot work more than an average of 48 hours a week in a 17-week period and must have at least 11 hours rest between shifts
Steve Edwards, chairman of the Lancashire Police Federation, said they were working with the constabulary to try to find a system of shift patterns that would meet the European legislation and be satisfactory to officers.
A spokesman for the HSE said: "The HSE has had contact with Lancashire Police and the Police Federation and has requested that the force develops and implements an action and implementation plan in relation to working time regulations."
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