Policing with the Ottawa shift system: a British experience

This paper takes an international perspective and reports the results of a trial of the Canadian (Ottawa) shift system within a UK police force. Primary data were collected via group interviews followed by a questionnaire survey. Secondary data were available from internal reports and performance measures. Officer welfare and morale were investigated and found to be greatly improved. Performance indicators, including arrest rates, also improved although it was not possible to establish a direct causal link with the introduction of Ottawa. A number of operational problems associated with the Ottawa system in the UK are identified and reviewed.