Over a million police absences in the last four years

By George MacLean

Police Jackets. Photographed by Maxim Hopman

Police Scotland have lost more than one million days to staff absence in the past four years.

Between April 2020 and now, statistics show at least 200,000 days lost. Out of the million days, 239,507 were because of psychological disorders, according to figures released by the Scottish Conservatives.

Statistics obtained under the freedom of information legislation also show that from April 2022 to June of this year, more than 7,000 officers were considered “non-deployable”.

In the year leading to June, that figure was 2,771 while a further 1,305 were deployable but with restrictions.

Tory justice spokesperson Liam Kerr described the figures as “staggering”.

He said: “There’s a vicious circle of overwhelmed officers going off sick, which in turn increases the stress on their remaining colleagues, who are more likely to fall ill too.

“SNP ministers are completely disconnected from the pressures facing police officers daily and have repeatedly neglected their needs.”

These include a new 24/7 employee assistance programme, direct access to occupational health services to support officers and staff on their journey back to health and work, and a greater focus on mental health.

The police in Scotland are currently being divided into two different parts, with one half staying off because they are too mentally hurt. The other side is struggling with the workload problem caused by those who are absent.

Police officers deal with many things that can negatively and mentally hurt them. This includes things like the traumatic events they witness due to the field they are in. Police officers also face long and difficult hours when on duty. Their work environments also change all the time furthering the stress they experience.

Deputy Chief Constable Alan Spiers is trying to combat this with “a new 24/7 employee assistance programme, direct access to occupational health services to support officers and staff on their journey back to health.”