Constabulary gives officers two extra days of paid leave

POLICE are to be given two extra days’ paid holiday per year to improve their “spiritual and emotional wellbeing”.

The force behind the initiative hopes it will ensure that officers have sufficient rest and recuperation, and will help them cope with the pressures of the job, which are “taking a greater toll”.

Lincolnshire Police believes the policy, to be put into place from next month, will put it in a better position to meet the “particular needs” of a “large rural county”.

Officers will be entitled to as many as 32 days of holiday per year after the change. Chief Constable Bill Skelly said: “This is one of a number of initiatives that we will introduce over the next few months.

“I have been most impressed by the commitment of Lincolnshire Police staff and officers but I am increasingly seeing the impact that this can have on their physical and mental wellbeing.

“By encouraging our staff to take time to look after themselves I believe that we can make an improvement to how they feel at work.”

Mr Skelly added: “We hope that this will help to reduce sickness and improve levels of resilience across the organisation.”

In a statement confirming the initiative, the force said: “We know that the demands placed on officers and staff who work in policing are great and we know that, without space and time to allow for rest and recuperation, these demands can take a toll.

“In Lincolnshire, our workforce has to cope with the significant and particular needs of policing in a large rural county.”