PAGAN police officers have been given the right to take eight days off each year to mark events including Hallowe’en and the summer solstice.
Several officers have held meetings with officials at the Home Office to set up a formal support group for Pagan police employees.
The Pagan Police Association could soon support shaman sergeants and druid detectives across England and Wales.
PC Andy Pardy, a Pagan neighbourhood beat officer in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, was one of the officers involved in the meetings.
He said: “Paganism is not the New Age, tree-hugging fad that some people think it is.” His force gives him eight Pagan holidays off each year, including Hallowe’en and the summer solstice in mid-June. The days form part of his annual leave.
Pagans worship nature and believe in many gods, and their practices include witchcraft and druidism.
According to the Office of National Statistics, there were 31,000 people practising Paganism in England and Wales in 2001.
