The chief Constable of Humberside has written to schools asking for the children of police officers and staff to be allowed holidays during term time.
Justine Curran said the force had to restrict leave during summer and Christmas for operational reasons.
Head teachers in the UK can only grant absence during school time in "exceptional circumstances".
Humberside Police released the following statement from the Chief Constable.
She said: "Earlier this month, I wrote to every school asking them for their support in allowing authorised term time absence for the children of operational officers and staff of Humberside Police, due to the challenges the force is facing.
"We have a very wide and varied role in supporting communities and national events with our highest demand periods being during the summer and Christmas periods, both locally and nationally.
"For example, during the summer period this year, specialist public order officers may be required to support national demands such as the marching season in Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth Games in Scotland and the NATO Summit in Wales.
"This is in addition to the significant resource requirements locally within Humberside.
"As an organisation, we therefore have to restrict the number of operational officers and staff who take annual leave at any one time, in particular during the summer and Christmas periods.
"Nationally as a service, we have lobbied the Secretary of State for Education to highlight the need for flexibility in relation to operational officers and staff.
"His reply indicated that these matters are the subject of local discretion by head teachers.
"As part of the Secretary of State for Education's response, I understand that schools have implemented the new requirement in relation to term time absence. "They have recognised armed forces personnel and other employees, including the police, who are prevented from taking annual leave in school holiday periods. "People employed in these roles may need to take authorised term time absence for their children so they can have a holiday.
"With this in mind, I asked that applications from operational officers and staff for term time absence be fully considered and looked upon favourably."
