Record numbers of police officers in the United Kingdom are on long-term sick leave, incurring costs of nearly £3 million per week for taxpayers, according to recent Home Office figures. The Federation representing police officers attributes this surge to a combination of poor management, a rise in assaults against officers, and increasing workloads.
Home Office data reveals that the equivalent of 3,358 full-time officers across 43 forces were absent due to sickness for periods exceeding 28 days. This figure represents those on long-term leave and does not include officers absent on the day of the count. The total number of officers on long-term sick leave has been on an upward trend for five consecutive years, reaching its current record high, which is a 71 percent increase since 2021.
The Home Office acknowledges that many officers are unable to work due to injuries sustained, assaults, and psychological conditions. The combined annual salary for these absent officers is approximately £150 million, translating to the nearly £3 million weekly cost.
William Yarwood, campaigns director of The TaxPayers' Alliance, expressed concern over the situation, stating that taxpayers are funding officers unable to perform their duties while the public desires a greater police presence and reduced crime. He urged police leadership to address sickness absence, improve management practices, and ensure recruitment efforts are not undermined by officers remaining off the front lines.
Metropolitan Police reported the highest number of officers on sick leave with 750, followed by Greater Manchester with 209, West Midlands with 169, West Yorkshire with 152, and South Wales with 119. On a proportional basis, Cleveland Police was most affected, with 4.8 percent of its force, or one in 21 officers, on sick leave. Across England and Wales, the average rate of long-term sickness absence is 2.3 percent, or one in 43 officers.
A spokesperson for the Police Federation highlighted these figures as a critical warning, indicating that relentless workloads, constant exposure to trauma, increasing assaults, and a system that overburdens officers are the inevitable consequences leading to long-term sickness.