Chairman reacts as Essex Police officers owed 9,512 rest days

ESSEX Police officers must be given the time to rest and recuperate from their stressful role.

That’s the message from Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor after it was revealed that Essex Police officers are owed 9,512 cancelled rest days by the force. That’s the equivalent of 26 years.

Steve said: “The demand faced by Essex officers has increased over recent years, while at the same time our numbers have decreased.

“While we welcome the recent local investment allowing for growth in police numbers this data could be considered part of the legacy of the austerity.

“Officers being used on rest days to plug the gap between resources and demand can often mean that these rest days are being put off, and in some cases not taken.

“In a stressful and demanding environment such as modern day policing, it’s vitally important officers are allowed to rest and recuperate.

“To do otherwise risks negatively impacting on our health and well being.”

A spokesperson for Essex Police, said: “Our officers and staff are dedicated professionals who work hard to tackle crime and keep the county safe.

“Sometimes this means we ask them to work on days off and we’re grateful to the commitment they show.

“There are times when we require officers to work such as large planned and unplanned incidents or specific policing operations, but we try and minimise this and give people as much notice as possible where we can.

“Over the last year we’ve seen a number of events which have led us to ask officers to work on rest days and we appreciate the understanding from officers, and their families, when we ask them to work on their days off.”

“Time off is important for the health and wellbeing of staff as time to rest and spend time with families and loved ones. We recognise the impact on officers and as a force we have invested in our ‘Feel Well Live Well’ programme as well as occupational health support and are signed up to other support.”

See the full story here https://www.echo-news.co.uk/news/17432377.essex-police-officers-owed-almost-10000-rest-days/