Officers on adjusted, recuperative and restricted duties

Freedom of information request reference no: 01.FOI.24.037523

I note you seek access to the following information:

Improving police productivity: a response to the recommendations of the Policing Productivity Review.

Published 23 April 2024

This policy paper refers to (i) recuperative and (ii) adjusted duties:

When looking at deployability, the Home Office wants to ensure forces are doing all they can to support officers on recuperative or adjusted duties – many of whom may simply require workplace adjustments to reoccupy frontline roles.

(Link removed)

Elsewhere, I have seen the term restricted duties:

Currently, of the Met's workforce of about 34,000 officers, 201 are suspended and about 860 are on restricted duties.' (comment dated 19/9/23):

(Link removed)

1. Please provide the number of officers on (i) recuperative duties (ii) adjusted duties and (iii) restricted duties broken down to show how long they have been on them:
i. Over 6 months but under 12 months;
ii. Over 12 months but under 18 months;
iii. Over 18 months but under 24 months; iv. Over 24 months but under 30 months; and v. Over 30 months.

Decision

I have today decided to disclose the located information to you in full. Please find below information pursuant to your request above.

Q1 - Please provide the number of officers on (i) recuperative duties (ii) adjusted duties and (iii) restricted duties broken down to show how long they have been on them:

i. Over 6 months but under 12 months;
ii. Over 12 months but under 18 months;
iii. Over 18 months but under 24 months; iv. Over 24 months but under 30 months; and v. Over 30 months.

The information provided in the three tables below relates to police officers only.

Table 1 was extracted by the HR Directorate from the Met’s HR system on the 15 May 2024 and reflects police officers subject to adjusted duties on this date. Adjusted duties are long-term work adjustments that are implemented if a police officer is unable to complete normal duties in the workplace. Longer term adjustments are made to overcome barriers at work.

Table 2 was extracted by the HR Directorate from the Met’s HR system on the 15 May 2024 and reflects police officers subject to recuperative duties on this date. Recuperative duties refer to a short-term temporary work period that is allocated to a police officer if they cannot complete their normal duties undertaken as part of their role or if they are falling short of full deployment following an injury, accident, illness or medical incident. The temporary work period allows a police officer to maximise their deployment at their current capability whilst enabling them to recover and return to full duties.

Table 3 was extracted by the DPS on the 10 May 2024 and reflects police officers subject to restricted duties on this date.

It should be noted that a police officer can have their duties restricted for multiple conduct matters or public complaints. Some officers will have been counted more than once.

Restricted duties are conditions or limitations placed on a police officer whilst under investigation. Police officers placed on restricted duties retain the powers and duties of a constable. They also retain their warrant cards. The decision to restrict an officer’s duties is not a misconduct outcome and does not suggest any presumption of guilt.

It should be noted that it is possible that officers appearing in tables 1 and 2 could appear in table 3.