Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what estimate his Department has made of the number of working days lost in police forces in England and Wales as a result of musculoskeletal conditions.

The number of working days lost in police forces in England and Wales specifically as a result of musculoskeletal conditions is not collected centrally by the Home Office.

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

These data are available in the Absence Open Data tables published alongside the annual ‘Police workforce’ statistical bulletin, available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/police-workforce-open-data-tables

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.

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