For 33,000 civil servants

From 2026: Police abolish 24-hour shifts

Police service 2.0: planned 12-hour shifts and overtime only if voluntary.(Bild: P. Huber)

The Ministry of the Interior is hoping that 12-hour shifts will give 33,000 officers more flexibility, predictability and a better work-life balance - but initial skepticism from within its own ranks is also being registered ...

The Austrian police are throwing half a century of tradition overboard: the legendary 24-hour duty bike is soon to be history. The new model promises flexibility, more free time and a modern working life for the approximately 33,000 law enforcement officers.

At the same time, the security of the population should continue to be "guaranteed without interruption" - and this is precisely where the first skeptics from within the ranks are speaking out: "Whether this will really relieve the burden or just create new problems will only become clear when it is introduced. Especially in smaller departments," the troops say.

Employee survey shows need to catch up
After years of growing dissatisfaction - confirmed by a more or less disastrous employee survey - the Ministry of the Interior is reacting "in good time". In future, police officers are to be allowed to have a much greater say in duty planning and decide for themselves every three months whether additional time off or overtime-oriented duty is preferred.

Less unplannable additional workload, better health, more time for family, regeneration and further training: this is the big promise from the management level. At the same time, EU working time directives are to be fulfilled.

So far, only half of the troops have been deployed at night and on Sundays and public holidays. Despite the additional workload, this has so far only been possible with overtime.

Andreas Achatz, BMI-Generalsekretär

Bild: APA/HANS KLAUS TECHT

Real operations are simulated, then tested on troops
The fact is: from spring next year, the new model will be simulated in several districts in the federal states of Vienna, Lower Austria, Styria, Upper Austria and Vorarlberg and then tested in real operations.

The experience gained from this will be incorporated into the nationwide introduction planned for 2027. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner speaks of a "strong signal for future-oriented police work", although a security policy belly flop is officially strictly prohibited.