Film Locations Glossary
Police detail
What is a police detail?
Also called police officer detail, or off-duty detail.
A police detail is the assignment of officers to a location to manage traffic, crowds, road closures, or firearms and effects work.
It is normally a permit condition rather than a production choice, booked through the department at a set hourly rate with a minimum call. Officer availability, not the production's schedule, frequently determines which day a street can actually be closed.
Example
A road closure requires two officers at an hourly rate with a four-hour minimum. Only one is available on the Tuesday, so the closure moves to Wednesday: officer availability sets the date, not the schedule.
Figures are illustrative, chosen to show the mechanics rather than to quote market rates.
Where you'll see it
Booked through the police department as a permit condition, billed to the production.
Common mistake
Building the schedule and then booking officers. Availability, not the production's plan, frequently decides which day a street can be closed.
Related questions
- When do productions need police at a location?
- For traffic management, road closures, crowd control, and firearms or effects work, generally as a permit condition rather than a choice.
- How are police details booked and paid?
- Through the department, at a set hourly rate with a minimum call, billed to the production.