Pregnant police officer

[GG11]

Currently 8 weeks pregnant and work for the police.
Work are now aware of my pregnancy... however they are absolutely useless and have no idea 'what to do with me'. Apparently HR have turned around and said that I should technically be on front line duty until I am 12 weeks pregnant (despite a risk assessment being conducted which shows being a front line officer exposes me to significant risk).
Any police officers been in a similar situation?
What was done for you?
Did you still have to work shifts?
I have read that night shifts can increase your risk of MC by 23%!!

Help and advice please :)
I can tell you now there is no way I am going out on front line duty and I'm not working nights.

That sounds a bit strange re night shifts? It's well-documented that night shifts have adverse health effects generally but I'd be surprised if that statistic is accurate.

Surely you simply follow the risk assessment & that's sufficient?

Not sure why you need to be so combative in approach though.

No, no way should you be on front line duties or on nights. I was put on restricted duties straight away. It was a bit boring as I was basically a statement taker for 9 months, but the slower pace was nice!

I was in the police and had two boys. From the moment I found out I was pregnant both times they put me in the office immediately, they absolutely can't make you go out and about.

I have many friends who are doctors and nurses, and they all kept working night shifts when pregnant. I never worked overnights (it’s not required in my role) but would often work upwards of 70 hours a week during my first pregnancy.

I know that pregnancy can feel like quite a vulnerable time, but other than in some extreme cases, it’s not a disability, and I’m not sure it makes a lot of sense to ask now for loads of accommodations.

Not sure why they are being so obstructive, I’ve had two pregnancies in the job and was on restricted from when I told them I was pregnant….
if they are trying to force you onto front line just self cert and then go to the docs for a fit to work note but with certain restriction in place (ie no nights and restricted duties). Please do not go oht and about responding to jobs, the chance of being assaulted is far too greater risk.
I was high risk pregnancy and had a fit note that put me on reduced hours from 20 weeks, really common in my force.
also speak to the federation xx

@UpToMyElbowsInDiapers clearly you’ve not been spat on punched or kicked before… not a place yoh want to be pregnant in

Im in the police in Scotland and I've been pregnant 3 times.every time I've told them they have put me on light duties straight away and given me the option to continue with shifts

This most recent time I was wanting to wait longer before telling them (due to previous misscarraige where everyone knew) but then I was 5 weeks and was in a house where 4 people were all smoking and i went back after and told my sgt. He immediately stopped me going out again despite control trying to send me to jobs. It's a unique job in that you have absolutely no control over the environments you end up in.

I'd be contacting your fed rep/ speaking to people in your area who have been pregnant

Do you work in a really tiny force? They must have something you can do. Event planning, professional standards, mispers, property office, just being the person to take telephone statements and review & clip cctv and put on telephone crime reports. Loads can be done from the office. I got gated straight away because we had to stop on route to a call for me to vomit in a bin 😳

I worked nights for a while when i was pregnant with DC1, but I had an unfortunate habit of falling asleep at about 3am, I was absolutely exhausted to my very core.

The NHS from all my experience through friends treat pregnant staff absolutely atrociously so don't think they should be put forward as good or even normal working practice. Pregnancy is a protected characteristic that reasonable accomodations are required by law to be made for it in the same way as disability.

The police is a massive employer so easy for them to make reasonable accomodations, there are hundreds of desk roles in the police that don't require the original poster to be front line for.

Whilst I am aware that the NHS has its fair share of aggressive and violent service users, the police is a completely different kettle of fish.

Police officers (especially on nights) are called out to fights in nightclubs/pubs, domestic violence situations, mental health crises (which can be agressive/violent) people who are armed, etc.

Itvis literally part of their job to diffuse violent situations, often physically, and there is obviously a significant risk sending a pregnant woman to do this.

Are you in the Fed?