BROKEN FORCE
Concerns raised after almost 250k sick days
SHOCK new figures show a mental health crisis engulfing police in Scotland, involving everyone from beat cops to senior officers.
We can reveal 249,389 days were lost to sickness in one 12-month period, of which 58,823 were due to mental health problems caused by conditions including anxiety, ty, depression, insomnia, and postosttraumatic stress ress disorder.
The most absences sences were among constables, nstables, with 208,087 daysys lost, of which 49,315 wereere due to psychological issues. sues
The figures released under freedom of information for 2022 show that officers up to the rank of deputy chief constable are affected by high sickness levels. That year the force’s 115 superintendents took 510 sick daysdays, of which 37 were for mental healhealth issues.
OfO the 47 officers at ththe most senior ranranks of chief supsuperintendent, assassistant chief coconstable and dedeputy chief coconstable there were 341 recordedre sick days,d of which 213 were lost due ttoo mental heal th coconcerns.
GenerGeneral secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, David Kennedy, said officers were being pushed every day to their limits due to cutbacks and reductions in numbers. He said: “All ranks are suffering at the moment from the state of the economy and police service.
“From the moment officers arrive at work to the moment they leave they are full on.
“They are not getting any respite from the daily grind no matter what rank they are and it is not going away.”
Chief Supt Rob Hay, president of the Association of Scottish Police Superintendents, said: “Senior officers are rarely absent from duty due to sickness. Unfortunately, when they do become ill, it tends to be because they have reached a tipping point and just can’t go on without help.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said:
“The health and welfare of our officers and staff is one of our highest priorities.”