Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many police officers are on on sick leave due to mental health problems.

The Home Office collects and publishes information on the number of police officers on certified long-term sick absence as at 31st March each year. Long-term absence due to sickness includes officers on leave for 28 days or more.

These data are published in the annual ‘Police workforce’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/police-workforce-england-and-wales

However, these data do not include the reason for the sick absence.

The Home Office also collects information on the number of police officers on short/medium term sick absence as at 31st March each year. Short/medium term absence due to sickness includes officers on leave for 28 days or less. Again, these data do not include the reason for the sick absence.

This information is published by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) in their Value for Money profiles, available here: https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmic/our-work/value-for-money-inspections/value-for-money-profiles