Shropshire Star

Letter: A simple solution to holiday dilemma

Further to the letter by George Sutherland and Peter Rhodes' comments, I can confirm that having served in two police forces, both only allowed a maximum of 10 per cent of manpower to be on holiday at the same time.

Published

Even then, more officers could be sick, on a course or at court, leaving a squad very short.

With most squads being 10 or less officers, it meant that only three could take two weeks off in the summer holidays and the rest had to take their holidays at some other time. Not all could afford holidays abroad and who wants to spend two weeks by the sea at Easter or Christmas?

Surely some common sense needs to be applied?

Taking a child out of school when exams are approaching or at some other critical time is not on, but for those who cannot go in the school holidays (not those who just want to save the higher cost) surely a non-critical date could be agreed and a way found to ensure a child catches up with any important learning lost?

It is either that or deny hard-working parents, and their children, a holiday – possibly for years. For years some parents had holidays in school time and I have not heard of any deprived children as a result.

Perhaps if Parliament had a 10 per cent rule, Mr Gove might think differently.

Richard Camp, Wellington

Sorry, we are not accepting comments on this article.