8+2

An evaluation of the Swedish Police Authority's new scheduling model

English summary of Brå report 2020:5

In order to schedule working hours to better match operational needs, the police have developed a new scheduling model, referred to as 8+2. Brå has followed the pilot project in eight districts.

In order for the police to do their job effectively, their working hours have to be scheduled based on the operational needs. In the case of patrol work, this means that more police officers need to work evenings and weekends to better meet public demand for police help. Previous attempts to reallocate working hours to these times have not been successful. In the light of this, the police decided, starting autumn 2018, to test a new scheduling model in eight pilot districts throughout Sweden. The aim of the model is to already at basic staffing levels better meet operational needs as well as reduce and even out employee workloads. Brå has evaluated how the work with the pilot project has been conducted, how the distribution of the week’s working hours has changed and whether, and if so how, the new schedule has affected performance and the police employees’ work environment.