“Support our police officers if they are stressed”

FUNDING is needed to offer swifter counselling to officers who are off work with stress – to help them get back to work, Essex Police Federation has said.

Monty Montgomery, secretary of Essex Police Federation, said that the number of officers who are off with stress “is on the increase” and it was important they are supported. It has been revealed that the country’s police officers had 250,000 days off last year due to stress-related illness.

That is a 15 per cent increase over the last three years

According to a further Freedom of Information Act request, 787 officers are currently signed off for stress across 35 forces in England and Wales.

Mr Montgomery said: “We have an occupational health department who do their best to help officers off with stress out – but they have had budget cuts as well. It is a very real problem.

“If we look at the causes of stress, it is things like pure workloads and change – as a service we are not very good at managing change. So it’s people being relocated and the upset of changes to departments and policies. It can be unsettling.

“We are trying to encourage managers and supervisors to support their officers if they are stressed. The chief constable is very aware of it. I would like to think one of the things I will be asking for is an increase in budget so occupational health have the ability to offer counselling for officers.

“There can be a long, long waiting time for officers to get counselling on the NHS – but if we were able to offer that funded by occupational health then we bypass any waiting lists, get the officer dealt with quickly and all research indicates that if that is done quickly then we get that officer back to work – and that is a real investment in officers.”

The Samaritans have highlighted signs that could show a colleague is feeling under pressure. These include irritableness, nervousness or drinking or smoking more than usual. If someone becomes withdrawn, loses interest in their appearance or is putting themselves down in a serious or jokey way, they might also be reaching out for help.

Officers who are feeling under high levels of stress can speak to Occupational Health at their force, their GP or call a helpline such as the Samaritans on 08457 909090.