Officers suffering injury on duty
Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.037265
I note you seek access to the following information:
- What mandatory support is provided to officers who suffer an injury on duty?
Please provide information on the mandatory support provided during different time frames of injuries on duty:
- Immediate aftermath
- Proceeding time frame of injury recovery
- Return to work
- During longer-term injuries - What seniority/rank of officer is made aware when a police officer suffers a serious injury on duty?
- Is there a policy stating that mandatory contact should be made to this injured officer? - What support must be provided to officers who are the victim of an assault on duty through both Operation Hampshire and any Metropolitan Police policies?
- In what instances does a mandatory TRIM referral for a police officer happen?
- Please state the level/types of incidents where TRIM referrals are made or procedures followed. - Please provide exact information on how many officers have received injuries on duty as a result of Mental Health Incidents (and to what severity) in the following financial years:
- April 2020 to March 2021
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024 - Please provide details for how many officers received a medical pension/retirement in the following financial years:
- April 2020 to March 2021
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024 - What preventative measures are being taken by the Metropolitan Police Service to reduce a police officer's likelihood of developing a severe mental health condition?
- What measures are being taken by the Metropolitan Police Service to provide support to officers following smaller, less-traumatic, volume incidents that officers attend, as opposed to just providing support when an officer attends a larger-scale traumatic event?
Decision
I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full.
Please find below information pursuant to your request above.
Q1 - What mandatory support is provided to officers who suffer an injury on duty?
Please provide information on the mandatory support provided during different time frames of injuries on duty:
- Immediate aftermath
- Proceeding time frame of injury recovery
- Return to work
- During longer-term injuries
Immediate welfare needs of the officer is managed and appropriate support identified for both physical and mental health support via the line manager/supervisor.
To assist with recovery and for cases that result in a sickness period, case management support is available from the HR case management team.
OH services can also be accessed to assist with any adjustments required in the workplace and support with recommendations for returning to work. The OH service provides a multi-disciplinary approach to ensure officers receive the appropriate clinical and therapeutic support required.
Q2 - What seniority/rank of officer is made aware when a police officer suffers a serious injury on duty?
When a Police officer suffers a serious injury on duty, the immediate line manager/supervisor is made aware. Senior Leadership Team are notified of all serious injury on duty cases.
- Is there a policy stating that mandatory contact should be made to this injured officer?
Depending of the nature of injury on duty and the severity, contact will be made accordingly.
Q3 - What support must be provided to officers who are the victim of an assault on duty through both Operation Hampshire and any Metropolitan Police policies?
For assaults reported via Operation Hampshire, support during initial early stages and ongoing support will be offered. Each case will be treated on an individual basis, with either line management or a welfare officer maintaining contact.
Immediate welfare needs are managed and identifying appropriate support required, which include OH services, EAP, signposting to internal and external support services. Sufficient time for recovery and support for any work adjustments and return to work will also be considered and provided, as required.
Officers also receive direct details of OH services and how to access from the Operation Hampshire system once a case has been recorded. As part of the Operation Hampshire process, a member of the senior leadership team will also make contact.
In relation to Metropolitan Police policies, this is too broad to provide a response.
Q4 - In what instances does a mandatory TRIM referral for a police officer happen?
- Please state the level/types of incidents where TRIM referrals are made or procedures followed.
The MPS does not use TRIM referrals.
The MPs worked with the National Police Wellbeing Service and College of Policing for clinical input to develop its own, clinically backed Trauma Support Programme, Trauma Peer Support (TPS).
TPS is an escalating programme of support, offered to Officers and Staff after any traumatic incident.
The programme provides a centrally coordinated and locally led effective, formalised and governed trauma peer support programme to support officers/staff post incident to manage the impact of exposure to trauma. This programme provides a Met structured local peer support process similar to other trauma models with the addition of a governance and clinical framework.
There are three levels to the programme, Demobilising, Defusing and the Trauma Support Meeting
Q5 - Please provide exact information on how many officers have received injuries on duty as a result of Mental Health Incidents (and to what severity) in the following financial years:
- April 2020 to March 2021
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024
Please see below table:
| Severity | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financial Year | Minor | Over 3 day | Over 7 day | Major | TOTAL |
| April 2020 to March 2021 | 336 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 349 |
| April 2021 to March 2022 | 383 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 394 |
| April 2022 to March 2023 | 380 | 4 | 6 | 7 | 397 |
| April 2023 to March 2024 | 368 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 385 |
The severity of these incidents has been classified using the injury types defined in the Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations (RIDDOR).
Q6 - Please provide details for how many officers received a medical pension/retirement in the following financial years:
- April 2020 to March 2021
- April 2021 to March 2022
- April 2022 to March 2023
- April 2023 to March 2024
Please see below information pursuant to your request above.
April 2020 to March 2021: 24
April 2021 to March 2022: 35
April 2022 to March 2023: 35
April 2023 to March 2024: 25
Q7 - What preventative measures are being taken by the Metropolitan Police Service to reduce a police officer's likelihood of developing a severe mental health condition?
There are two preventative support programmes to reduce the impact of trauma:
Psychological Monitoring Programme - a prevention based programme and manages risk to individuals whom are in roles that are likely to have regular exposure to psychological trauma.
Trauma Peer Support Programme - A localised intervention programme for officers (and staff where required) to reduce the risk of mental health stress following traumatic exposure. Training is also offered in Trauma Impact Prevention Techniques, a self-resilience programme developed by the University of Cambridge and Dr Jess Miller.
Mental health awareness is also covered within learning and development training modules, including new recruits and leadership courses to raise awareness and support available.
In addition, further support and services are available from the wellbeing provision delivered by the OH provider.
Q8 - What measures are being taken by the Metropolitan Police Service to provide support to officers following smaller, less-traumatic, volume incidents that officers attend, as opposed to just providing support when an officer attends a larger-scale traumatic event?
Please see response to question 4 that also applies to this question.
In addition, all officers and staff are being offered training in Trauma Impact Prevention Techniques, a self-resilience programme developed by the University of Cambridge and Dr Jess Miller.