Data on Frontline/response Police Officers
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.034475
I note you seek access to the following information:
I would like to request for the following data, held from September 2019 - September 2023. Most data points are requested for specific month/year-to-month/year periods.
1. Total number of frontline/response police officers, including those recorded as 'in probation' by each year (total figure as at Sept 2019, Sept 2020, Sept 2021, Sept 2022, Sept 2023), including those on short-term and long-term periods of leave and those on restricted duties. [Example: As at September 2022, there were X number of police officers assigned to frontline or response roles, including those on probation.]
2. Total number of frontline/response police officers (category specific) that took any period of sickness absence within each period as follows: Sept 2019-Sept 2020, Sept 2020-Sept 2021, Sept 2021-Sept 2022, Sept 2022-Sept 2023. NB: Figures requested by number of officers that recorded any absence – not by total number of absences. [Example: Between September 2021 - September 2022, there were X number of officers assigned to frontline or response roles that took at least one period of sickness absence.]
iib) From total number, a breakdown of officers by length of service, as: less than 1 year of service, less than 3 years' service, less than 5 years' service, greater than 5 years' service, within each period. If unavailable, any other length of service statistics that can categorise accordingly. [Example: Between September 2021 - September 2022, of X number of officers that took at least one period of sickness absence, X number held fewer than 1 year of service, X number less than 3 years' service, etc.]
3. Total number of frontline/response officers with absences within each period* (as above) reported as resultant of mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related conditions, or psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other reason for absence. *Sept 2019-Sept 2020, Sept 2020-Sept 2021, Sept 2021-Sept 2022, Sept 2022-Sept 2023. [Example: Between September 2021 - September 2022, of X number of officers that took at least one period of sickness absence, X number of officers reported at least one absence as resultant of the reasons herein mentioned.]
iiib) From total number, a breakdown of officers by length of service, as: less than 1 year of service, less than 3 years' service, less than 5 years' service, greater than 5 years' service, within each period. If unavailable, any other length of service statistics that can categorise accordingly. [Example: Between September 2021 - September 2022, of X number of officers that took at least one period of sickness absence resultant of the reasons herein mentioned, X number held fewer than 1 year of service, X number less than 3 years' service, etc.]
4. Number of frontline/response officers who, for the total period covering Sept 2019 - Sept 2023 (not by year), took more than one period of absence resultant of mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related conditions, or psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other reason for absence. [Example: Between September 2019 - September 2023 inclusive, X number of officers took more than one period of sickness absence resultant of the reasons herein mentioned.]
5. Number of occupational health referrals made for frontline/response officers within each period* for mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related reasons, psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other health concern. *Sept 2019-Sept 2020, Sept 2020-Sept 2021, Sept 2021-Sept 2022, Sept 2022-Sept 2023. [Example: Between September 2021 - September 2022, X number of officers assigned to frontline/response duty were referred to occupational health due to absences or requests to be referred for the reasons mentioned herein.],
6. Total number of officers (not limited to frontline/response) registered or flagged with occupational health (inclusive of awaiting and continuing registrations and treatments) for mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related reasons, psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other health concern, as at Sept 2019, Sept 2020, Sept 2021, Sept 2022, Sept 2023. [Example: As at September 2023, X number of officers across all roles and duty assignments were registered with occupation health resultant of the reasons mentioned herein.]
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - I would like to request for the following data, held from September 2019 - September 2023. Most data points are requested for specific month/year-to-month/year periods.
Total number of frontline/response police officers, including those recorded as 'in probation' by each year (total figure as at Sept 2019, Sept 2020, Sept 2021, Sept 2022, Sept 2023), including those on short-term and long-term periods of leave and those on restricted duties.
| September 2019 | |
| Level 2 / Local OCU | Total Head Count |
| Frontline Policing Under Level 2 - (Including Response Team) | 19594 |
| Adjusted Duties - Level 2 | 863 |
| Response Team | 8703 |
| Adjusted Duties - Response Team | 65 |
| September 2020 | |
| Level 2 / Local OCU | Total Head Count |
| Frontline Policing Under Level 2 - (Including Response Team) | 21737 |
| Adjusted Duties - Level 2 | 1208 |
| Response Team | 9488 |
| Adjusted Duties - Response Team | 78 |
| September 2021 | |
| Level 2 / Local OCU | Total Head Count |
| Frontline Policing Under Level 2 - (Including Response Team) | 21959 |
| Adjusted Duties - Level 2 | 1554 |
| Response Team | 8834 |
| Adjusted Duties - Response Team | 115 |
| September 2022 | |
| Level 2 / Local OCU | Total Head Count |
| Frontline Policing Under Level 2 - (Including Response Team) | 22820 |
| Adjusted Duties - Level 2 | 1824 |
| Response Team | 8381 |
| Adjusted Duties - Response Team | 249 |
| September 2023 | |
| Level 2 / Local OCU | Total Head Count |
| Frontline Policing Under Level 2 - (Including Response Team) | 22944 |
| Adjusted Duties - Level 2 | 2145 |
| Response Team | 8697 |
| Adjusted Duties - Response Team | 251 |
Q2 - Total number of frontline/response police officers (category specific) that took any period of sickness absence within each period as follows: Sept 2019-Sept 2020, Sept 2020-Sept 2021, Sept 2021-Sept 2022, Sept 2022-Sept 2023. NB: Figures requested by number of officers that recorded any absence – not by total number of absences.
From total number, a breakdown of officers by length of service, as: less than 1 year of service, less than 3 years' service, less than 5 years' service, greater than 5 years' service, within each period. If unavailable, any other length of service statistics that can categorise accordingly.
| Sept 19-Sept20 | Sept 20-Sept21 | Sept 21-Sept22 | Sept 22-Sept23 |
| 11598 | 11936 | 15849 | 15633 |
Please note for Question Two (2) HR can’t provide breakdown by length of service because it’s not available in the sickness data set in our database.
Q3 - Total number of frontline/response officers with absences within each period* (as above) reported as resultant of mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related conditions, or psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other reason for absence. *Sept 2019-Sept 2020, Sept 2020-Sept 2021, Sept 2021-Sept 2022, Sept 2022-Sept 2023.
From total number, a breakdown of officers by length of service, as: less than 1 year of service, less than 3 years' service, less than 5 years' service, greater than 5 years' service, within each period. If unavailable, any other length of service statistics that can categorise accordingly.
| Sept 19-Sept20 | Sept 20-Sept21 | Sept 21-Sept22 | Sept 22-Sept23 |
| 1010 | 1037 | 1368 | 1829 |
Please note for Question Three (3) HR can’t provide breakdown by length of service because it’s not available in the sickness data set in our database.
Q4 - Number of frontline/response officers who, for the total period covering Sept 2019 - Sept 2023 (not by year), took more than one period of absence resultant of mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related conditions, or psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other reason for absence.
3,484 officers
Q5 - Number of occupational health referrals made for frontline/response officers within each period* for mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related reasons, psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other health concern. *Sept 2019-Sept 2020, Sept 2020-Sept 2021, Sept 2021-Sept 2022, Sept 2022-Sept 2023.
Sept 2019/2020 – 1265
Sept 2020/2021 – 1531
Sept 2021/2022 – 2365
Sept 2022/2023 – 3383
Q6 - Total number of officers (not limited to frontline/response) registered or flagged with occupational health (inclusive of awaiting and continuing registrations and treatments) for mental ill-health, trauma exposure, stress and stress-related reasons, psychological injury; or where any of the aforementioned is co-reported alongside any other health concern, as at Sept 2019, Sept 2020, Sept 2021, Sept 2022, Sept 2023.
Sept 2019/2020 – 2783
Sept 2020/2021 – 3168
Sept 2021/2022 – 4266
Sept 2022/2023 – 5598