Nearly one in ten police officers in Scotland are waiting for assessments on their fitness to work, with an average delay of more than two and a half years.
New figures show 1,544 officers are awaiting assessment to see if their disability, injury or illness permanently prevents them from doing their role, and have been placed on ‘adjusted duties’ in the meantime.
This is the equivalent of 9.4 per cent of Police Scotland’s 16,427 officers, sparking concerns over the increased strain on those remaining on the front line.
The new figures also reveal the average time officers are spending on adjusted duties is 973 days, or more than two-and-a-half years.
Scottish Police Federation (SPF) general secretary David Kennedy said the wait was putting unsustainable pressure on already stretched teams.
“Put simply, there is no-one left to do the frontline job. When numbers dwindle, it is the front line that gets hit,” he said.
“There have always been office jobs, and they play an important part in policing, but we can’t keep taking from the front line.
“Put simply, there is no-one left to do the frontline job. When numbers dwindle, it is the front line that gets hit”
David Kennedy, SPF general secretary
“We need more people on the front line. Realistically, we need 2,000 or 3,000 extra officers when we are losing so many who are on modified duties.”
The number of officers awaiting assessment forms a large part (60 per cent) of the overall number of officers currently on what is termed ‘modified duties’.
This figure is sitting at 2,553, which is a 67 per cent rise in the space of just five years.
A report submitted to the Scottish Police Authority (SPA) warned that the number of officers on modified duties could lead to “insufficient deployable resources within divisions”, with knock-on effects including cancelled rest days, shift changes, and increased pressure on frontline colleagues.
Last month, 1919 revealed the overtime bill for Scotland’s police officers and staff has climbed above £85,000 per day, with a fall in rank-and-file numbers blamed for the cost.
“You just look at the overtime figures to see the strain the force is under,” Kennedy said. “We need more frontline officers and we need better support and processes for those who can’t do their usual job.
“We need substantial financial investment in the police to keep the public safe and protect everyone.”
He called for the system to be speeded up, and for officers who were unfit to work to be able to collect their pension and retire.
He said: “If you aren’t fit to be a police officer, you are entitled to your pension, and police should be able to recruit someone to fill the place. This situation is unsustainable.”
“A continuing upward trend of officers requiring duty modifications could result in insufficient deployable resources within divisions”
SPA report
Officers can be put on modified duties due to illness or injury. The numbers include officers who are pregnant or returning from pregnancy, as well as those who are the subject of disciplinary proceedings or under investigation following complaints about their conduct.
The report presented to the SPA’s people committee states: “A continuing upward trend of officers requiring duty modifications could result in insufficient deployable resources within divisions, impacting on service delivery… resultant capacity issues could impact on workforce wellbeing and potentially increase the volume of work, which could cause the need to work extended hours, vary shifts and re-roster rest days.”
The report set out measures to address the backlog, including reviewing cases exceeding 12 months on modified duties, and speeding up occupational health assessments.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said the numbers included officers who were fully deployable to events, but needed a small adjustment to allow them to work. Examples included people with diabetes who might need breaks to take medication.
The spokesperson said: “The health and welfare of our officers and staff is one of Police Scotland’s highest priorities.
“Working in policing is a job like no other, and our officers and staff find themselves in situations which can be stressful, traumatic and can have a lasting impact on them.
“Police Scotland is determined to continue to drive improvements to support our people. We have a range of mechanisms in place to support our employees including the ‘Employee Assistance Programme’ and the ‘Your Wellbeing Matters’ programme.
“We also work with our occupational health and employee assistance provider to support police officers and staff in their journey back to health and, subsequently, to work.”