Federation highlights the importance of adequate sleep for officer wellbeing

SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation has highlighted the importance of adequate sleep and rest for officers across the force.

Steve Kent, Chairman of South Yorkshire Police Federation, has highlighted how a number of colleagues are reaching “breaking point” as they are stretched by the demand they currently face.

The Oscar-Kilo National Police Wellbeing Survey quizzed 22,000 officers and police staff across England and Wales – 40% of respondents said they had trouble drifting off to sleep – saying they get fewer than six hours a night.

Officers also feel they are less valued by the public than before.

Steve said: “I quite enjoyed working shifts but the fact is that it completely affects your body clock. There’s anecdotal evidence out there that working shifts can sometimes accelerate health problems like diabetes.

“I have actually seen in a lot of officer’s cases where medical problems have been exasperated by this irregularity. If everybody, in theory, was having 6 hours of solid sleep every night between 12 and 6, it would probably be much better than people having 6 hours all over the place.”

Steve added: “The challenges of life and the challenges of family life often see officers when they’re on nights get up early so they don’t waste the day. It’s a very difficult balancing thing to have.

“I just think what we need to try and encourage people is to have as much quality rest as they possibly can, whether that be the focus especially on days off, getting a good night’s sleep, or focusing on the actual working days, trying to get that good sleep. “