united-kingdom police england-and-wales gambling
Is it illegal for a police officer to buy lottery tickets?
<p>I work retail and one of my jobs includes upselling lottery tickets. I was told by a police officer (clearly on duty &amp; uniformed) that it was illegal for them to buy one while on duty as it is considered gambling.</p>
<p>Is this true?</p>
<p>This is in the UK, specifically England.</p>

<p>No. There's nothing in neither the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2005/19/contents" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Gambling Act 2005</a> nor the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2003/527/schedule/1?timeline=false" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Police Regulations 2003</a> specifically preventing police officers from buying lottery tickets (or gambling in general for that matter).</p>
<p>The principal requirement from the Police Regulations is at Schedule 1, para 1 which is to do it (like everything else in life) sensibly:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>A member of a police force shall at all times abstain from any
activity which is likely to interfere with the impartial discharge of
his duties or which is likely to give rise to the impression amongst
members of the public that it may so interfere.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>However, there <em>may</em> be local force policies in place (regarding lottery tickets) but I doubt it.</p>
