2 early shifts, 2 late shifts, 2 night shifts and 4 rest days
A common UK police 6 on 4 off rota runs through two early shifts, two late shifts and two night shifts before four rest days. Its ten-day cycle moves continuously through weekdays and weekends.
There is no single national police start-time template. Forces and departments use local agreements, and even rotas with the same 6 on 4 off name can use different hours. The starter below uses 07:00–16:00, 15:00–00:00 and 22:00–07:00 only as editable defaults.
Calculate dates from the correct cycle start
- Find a date you can confirm was the first early shift in the ten-day cycle.
- Load the starter and replace all three start and finish times with the hours on your official rota.
- Check whether your department follows early, early, late, late, night, night, then four off—or a locally modified order.
- Add or scan the other person's rota, then compare enough weeks to capture the way both cycles move through weekends.
Police 6 on, 4 off FAQ
What does police 6 on 4 off usually mean?
A commonly published form is two early or morning shifts, two late or afternoon shifts, two night shifts and four rest days. Local times and arrangements vary.
Is 6 on 4 off the same in every UK police force?
No. Official force information shows both common structures and local differences. Confirm the exact sequence, hours and cycle day 1 from your own published rota.
How long is the repeating cycle?
The starter repeats every ten days: six working days followed by four rest days.
Can two officers on different teams compare the same rota?
Yes. Load the same starter for both patterns, then give each officer the correct cycle day 1. A one-day team offset changes every result.
Published rota references
These official examples support the rota family, while also showing why local times must be checked.