McArthur: Police officer days lost to mental health up almost 40%

Scottish Liberal Democrat justice spokesperson Liam McArthur MSP today said that police officers and staff are being hung out to dry as he revealed that almost 90,000 days of officer and staff time have been lost due to mental ill health over the past twelve months.  

New data from Police Scotland, obtained by the Scottish Liberal Democrats through freedom of information legislation, highlighted: 

• 337,525 police officer and staff days lost to psychological disorders since April 2019. 
• An increase in the number of working days lost due to psychological disorders for police officers, from 43,413 in 2019/20 to 61,969 in the twelve months to September 2023. 
• An increase in the number of working days lost due to psychological disorders for police staff from 20,384 in 2019/20 to 26,771 in the twelve months to September 2023. 
• As of 30 September 2023, there were 202 police officers and 94 staff absent under the absence category ‘Psychological Disorders’ and categorised as a long-term absence. Of these, 134 police officers and 54 staff were related to stress. 

Mr McArthur said:

“These figures show the toll that mental ill health is taking on the police service. At any given time, dozens of experienced officers and staff are unavailable because they have had to step back for the sake of their health.  

“Police officers are often the ones to assist us in our moments of greatest need, yet the Scottish Government has hung officers and staff out to dry when it comes to providing them with the support they need to manage their own mental health. 

“As a result of SNP budget cuts, the police are clearly preparing for a future in which they have fewer officers to keep the public safe. That will mean even more pressure on the officers and staff who remain.  

“Scottish Liberal Democrats want to see many more mental health staff working alongside the police, mental health first aiders supporting colleagues and annual staff surveys to identify issues quickly and provide support wherever it is needed.”