LABOUR’S challenger to be the next MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock, Mike Le Surf, has written to the County’s Police and Crime Commissioner for urgent action to tackle the soaring sickness rates in the Essex Police.
Mike Le-Surf said:
“Information obtained by the Police federation through a Freedom of Information Request show that in the year 2009/2010 the number of police duty days lost through sickness was 27,654 – a slight fall on the previous year. Yet last year (2013/14) this had risen to a staggering 41,251 days. That’s an increase of 50%. Its a shocking figure and the public deserve answers.
We should all be very concerned that the conditions with the biggest increases appear to be those where stress could be a factor.
We know that police numbers are being cut and that this places a heavier burden on the remaining officers.
The Police and Crime Commissioner has a duty to work with serving police officers to investigate the reasons for this dramatic increase and to take action to ensure that there is less sickness in our local force.
It’s not in the best interests of the police or the public to have such high levels of absence through sickness and the Police and Commissioner must let the people of Essex know what he is doing about it”
Mr Le-Surf’s concerns have been echoed by Baroness Smith of Basildon.
The Baroness said:
“I am sure the noble Lord has spoken to police officers, as I have. They have told me that the thin blue line is getting thinner and thinner. They feel they are unable to do their job as they want to and should be able to. The reforms that we and they expect seem no nearer with so many reviews and consultations. Those delays hit their morale, especially when they see convictions falling.
For example, in my home county of Essex, the investigation into the Colchester murders is drawing officers away from other parts of the country. They are having to leave the policing and investigations in their areas to undertake mutual assistance in Essex to ensure that they can effectively investigate these dreadful murders and police the area in Colchester. I have been told that this has meant that some officers have been on permanent 12-hour shifts for three weeks. That has taken its toll.
I do not know whether the Minister has seen the sickness figures for Essex but, in 2009-10, Essex Police lost 27,654 days to sickness. In the last year to April 2014, with fewer officers in Essex Police, that has risen to a staggering 41,251 days. Is the Minister as shocked and as worried as I am that the sickness levels in the Essex Police—and I have no reason to expect that Essex is different to anywhere else—have risen so dramatically since this Government have been in office?
We are right to expect the highest standards from the police, but does the Minister agree that the police also have a right to expect the highest standards from the Government in tackling police reform issues more quickly and in making effective use of resources?”
