More officers are feeling the pressure, PFEW warns

LARGER workloads, longer hours and an increase in travel times are contributing to an increase in stress among police officers, the Police Federation of England and Wales has said.

Carolyn Davies, who sits on the Federation’s Health and Safety sub-committee, has echoed advice from West Yorkshire Police Federation’s chairman Jon Christopher that officers should seek help if they are feeling under pressure.

Mr Christopher warned that it was “only a matter of time” before more officers began feeling the pressure. “If officers are feeling stressed they must do something about it,” he said. “It can have dangerous effects, leading to depression or even people taking their own lives.”

Figures released by the Office of National Statistics show that 55 police officers in England and Wales took their own lives between 2009 and 2011: 15 in 2009, 23 in 2010 and 17 in 2011. Miss Davies, who holds the national reserve seat on the Inspectors’ Central Committee, believes there is likely to be a small increase when the figures for 2012 are published.

“We have seen an increase in stress among officers, and not just federated ranks,” said Miss Davies. “An increased workload comes into it, as well as longer hours. Cuts have meant some units have closed. A team of ten officers could be reduced to five, for example, but still have to deal with the same workload.”

She said some officers on flexible working patterns are under pressure to increase their hours, while other officers are facing longer travel times as more posts are centralised.

The Health and Safety Welfare and Wellbeing sub-committee, which includes representatives from ACPO and Occupational Health, is working with agencies and charities such as the Samaritans to provide help for officers. The College of Policing is also putting together a tool kit to offer help and advice for Fed reps, support officers and managers to help their colleagues.

The Samaritans has highlighted signs that could show a colleague is feeling under pressure. These include irritableness, nervousness or drinking or smoking more than usual. A spokesman for the charity pointed out that “just because someone is in a ‘tough’ job doesn’t mean they are any better at dealing with stress than anyone else”.

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 90 90 90.