Officer morale ‘plummeting’ as a result of attacks

OFFICERS at the Police Service of Northern Ireland were attacked 740 times last year, the force’s Federation said.

Morale is plummeting as a result of the attacks that amount to more than 10% of officers being assaulted on duty, according to Mark Lindsay, Federation Chairman.

He said: “We are the only public service that is required to put ourselves in harm’s way, and has to endure this level of abuse.”

He told his annual conference: “Our interventions to protect people often lead to our officers being hospitalised. That means debilitating injuries such as fractures, involving long recovery times, or a psychological illness that requires long-term treatment.

“There is no real appreciation of the knock-on effects assaults and injuries have on our men and women. There is a clear risk in doing the job, but that seems to be overlooked.”

In his first speech to the annual conference as Chairman, Mr Lindsay said: “Sickness levels make banner headlines, but what they don’t tell us is the extent of injuries or illnesses, or the de-motivational impact they have on the individual. Morale is low, and getting lower.”

The Chairman called on the Senior Command Team to acknowledge the pressures officers endure, and how lives are “turned upside down” because of illnesses and injuries, “sustained directly as a result of protecting society”.

The force is currently overhauling its sickness management system, but the Federation called on Chief Constable George Hamilton to make sure changes were not made at the expense of his officers’ health and well-being.

He added: “We’re not desk-bound civil servants in government departments. Chief Constable, put your officers first before implementing efficiency strategies that fail to acknowledge the simple facts of policing this society.”

The Chairman also revealed how officers in a stretched and morale-battered PSNI are owed more than 33,000 rest days.

Mr Lindsay said that despite their goodwill, officers would find it increasingly difficult to deliver the service the community had a right to expect.

Mr Lindsay said: “33,091 Modified Rest Days tells its own story of a service extended to the limit; of a service that needs help; of men and women who have an undeniable commitment to the job.

“33,091 days represent a level of goodwill unequalled anywhere in the public sector.”