“Public at risk as country’s police officers struggle to sleep”

NEARLY half of UK police officers are so stressed they cannot sleep, a new study has shown.

Officers are getting fewer rest days off work, carrying out more night shifts and taking fewer scheduled rest breaks during the working day.

The results showed that 82% of officers rarely or never have the chance to take their scheduled rest breaks during the working day, the survey showed, while changes in shift schedules mean officers get fewer rest days off work and are required to work more night shifts.

Nearly seven in ten officers said that because they were unable to rest properly, bouts of sleepiness interfered with daily work activities at least a few times a month.

The study revealed that officers are so worried about their work and job prospects that 40% have taken holiday days to cover a genuine sickness absence, while 14% of officers are owed more than 5 days off.

Officers reported they got on average just 6 hours 11 minutes of sleep a night prior to going to work and 85% of officers said they were not meeting their sleep need over the course of their shift schedule.

More than eight out of ten officers who responded said they do not feel as though they achieve enough sleep with the main reasons cited as: shift schedules (61%), not having enough time (47%), work worries (48%) and personal worries (41%). Nearly half (48%) of respondents were also deemed to be at risk of insomnia.

Marcus de Guingand, managing director of Third Pillar of Health, who ran the study, said: “The reduction in police numbers and the subsequent changes in shift schedules are having a serious effect on police officers. Lack of sleep and high levels of stress have implications for the health, safety and performance of UK police officers.

“If nothing is done to address these issues the public can expect to see more officers off sick, more accidents and an increase in complaints against police officers.”

Widespread tiredness, fatigue and stress is putting officers and the public at risk, according to Neil Bowles, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation – who commissioned the study along with other local federations.

Mr Bowles said: “We want healthy cops to provide the service they are paid for and we don’t want them falling asleep at the wheel and causing fatal accidents. We will be taking these results to occupational health and human resource departments and management to see if we can guarantee rest breaks, educate people about healthy lifestyles and cut down the amount of cancelled rest days.”

Andy Marsh, Chief Constable of Hampshire Constabulary added: “”Our community needs healthy and fit officers and my responsibility is to create an environment that provides everything possible to ensure that. You cannot underestimate the value of a healthy and fit workforce.”