I’m a Police officer and I don’t know when to go on light duties

[KatieG95]

I’ve just found out I’m pregnant, I’m 7 weeks and I’ve told my Sergeant already as I’m finding work very tiring.
My issue is my Sergeant has asked me whether I want to go onto light duties or whether I’m happy still being operational until 13 weeks or a bit further along.
I don’t feel as though I need to go on full light duties but I’m struggling with the shifts and working nights already.
I feel like it’s too early to tell everyone because of all the risks at this point but at the same point I want to limit any risks.

I’ve not even told my mum yet as I’ve said before I don’t want to tell too many people yet!

Does anyone have any advice?

I didn't go straight onto light duties with my first pregnancy, then I had a heavy few weeks with aid, I was boiling hot, dehydrated, doing lots of 14 hour days in a row, and I miscarried. The two might not have been linked but I'll never know. When I got pregnant again I told my Inspector straight away - which was useful as I started feeling fairly unwell and totally exhausted soon after.

Not worth the risk to continue on the front line.

Just say to the rest of the shift you have an injury (shoulder, leg) if its too early to broadcast it - and go on light duties

Go on light duties now. I'm surprised it isnt mandatory to be honest

Not certain but feel like that would be discrimination; if a pregnant officer feels fit and well in a role where there is good overtime or development, you'd be forcing her to lose money or opportunity for progression. Needs to be risk assessed on an individual basis.

I hadn’t realised this was a thing in the police force.
When I was cabin crew I was ‘grounded’ straight away. No flying for me.
I’d be going on light duties as I wouldn’t risk being injured whilst pg.

Your line management should do a risk assessment. Really, light duties would be not frontline/public contact, to protect you from assault. Feeling tired starts wandering into pregnancy as an illness, and I’m not sure if that warrants it.

It should be a dynamic risk assessment and reviewed every four weeks at a minimum. How you feel now in your first trimester may differ from how you feel in your second and third.
You should be restricted from contact with conflict situations, working at heights, contagious diseases at a minimum but this doesn't mean you sit behind a desk twiddling your thumbs!

There should be support from your Health and safety dept for your sgt when conducting a risk assessment and guidance in the maternity policy