FOI 10/26 Mental Health Sick Leave in 2025
Date: 02/02/26
Enquiry Reference: 10 - 26
I write in connection with regards to your Freedom of Information request. Below is your request and our response.
- Can you provide the total number of days that were lost to police officers taking sick leave between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025.
- a) 20240.
- Can you provide how many days were lost in sick leave where mental health was cited as a contributing factor between 01/01/2025 and 31/12/2025.
- a) 11390.
- Can you provide a breakdown of the previous questions 1 and 2, and categorise them into groups regarding age, gender and rank.
- a) Standard sickness absences
Age groups
18-25 - 1229 working days lost
26-35 - 5950 working days lost
36-45 - 6053 working days lost
46-55 - 6498 working days lost
56-65 - 458 working days lost
65+ - 52 working days lost
Gender
Female - 8208 working days lost
Male - 12032 working days lost
Rank
Constable - 15379 working days lost
Sergeant - 3011 working days lost
Inspector - 985 working days lost
Chief Inspector - 749 working days lost
Superintendent - 109 working days lost
Assistant Chief Constable - 7 working days lost
Due to stress related sicknesses
Age groups
18-25 - 515 working days lost
26-35 - 3429 working days lost
36-45 - 3562 working days lost
46-55 - 3821 working days lost
56-65 - 63 working days lost
65+ - 0 working days lost
Gender
Female - 4579 working days lost
Male - 6811 working days lost
Rank
Constable - 8427 working days lost
Sergeant - 1930 working days lost
Inspector - 663 working days lost
Chief Inspector - 317 working days lost
Superintendent - 53 working days lost
Assistant Chief Constable - 0 working days lost
- Can you provide a list of what support services your force provides for all police officers seeking mental health support.
- a) The Force provides confidential counselling service both by 'employed' Counsellors and via external 3rd party provider. This includes therapies such as EMDR and CBT.
There is also the Employee Assistance Programme whereby a helpline number is provided to all and available 24/7 for counselling, advice and guidance on a range of subjects. In addition to an online portal available for employees
Police Mental Health Crisis Line is also available to Police employees and is available 24/7 providing immediate support and counselling.
Having made enquiries within the Force above is all the information we hold.
If you are not satisfied with this response or any actions taken in dealing with your request, you have the right to request an independent internal review of your case under our review procedure. The Freedom of Information Code of Practice (see below link) states that a request for internal review should be made within 20 working days of the date on this response or 40 working days if extenuating circumstances to account for the delay can be evidenced. Public authorities are not obliged to accept internal reviews after this date.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-code-of-practice
Yours sincerely
Information Rights Decision Maker