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Police Officer sickness - 905/18

Date Responded 16 October 2018

Provision of information held by Northumbria Police made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (the 'Act')

As you may be aware the purpose of the Act is to allow a general right of access to information held at the time of a request, by a Public Authority (including the Police), subject to certain limitations and exemptions.

You asked:

Can I please have the amount of officers in your force that have taken time off work for mental health/anxiety/stress related issues.

I would like the total number of days of all absences.

Can I please have a yearly breakdown over the last 10 years, since January 1, 2008, up until Wednesday 12 September, 2018

For example, it may look like:

2008: 34 officers, 300 days in total.

2009: 40 officers, 345 days in total.

2010: 31 officers, 280 days in total.

In Response:

We have now had the opportunity to fully consider your request and I provide a response for your attention.

Following receipt of your request, searches were conducted with the Human Resources Department of Northumbria Police. I can confirm that the information you have requested is held by Northumbria Police.

I am able to disclose the located information to you as follows.

 

Absence Categories Included:

Anxiety

Depression

Other mental health (Inc. bipolar, schizophrenia, hypomania)

Post-Traumatic Stress

Stress

 

Data for 2018 up to and including 12th Sep 2018.

 

Year

Officers

Days

2008

138

6872

2009

117

5246

2010

127

4904

2011

163

6794

2012

175

7724

2013

154

4902

2014

200

6380

2015

223

6966

2016

209

7863

2017

203

7385

2018

167

5521

 

Northumbria Police recognises the importance of supporting positive mental health/well-being across its workforce. Over the last few years a framework has been developed which is aimed at destigmatising mental health/wellbeing amongst all police officers and staff. This has the aim of encouraging disclosure and reporting of issues, leading to early identification and proactive interventions. Other initiatives to support individuals include; the training of ‘Blue Light Champions’ across the organisation, ‘Trauma Risk Management Practitioners’ within a wider post incident management procedures; and the upskilling of line managers/supervisors to identify and support mental wellbeing.

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