19/04/2010
Senior police officers across the country complain that they regularly
work 50 to 60 hours a week
More than half of senior police officers are suffering from anxiety
and depression brought on by under-staffing, bullying chief constables
and 60-hour working weeks.
The survey of 800 superintendents and chief superintendents in England
and Wales paints a picture of police forces ravaged by record levels
of stress-related illnesses. Nearly one-quarter described their
anxiety symptoms as moderate or severe, while a similar number said
they suffered from depression.
In one recent case, a 40-year-old superintendent suffered a heart
attack after working 30 days without a day off. The findings are so
worrying that the Police Superintendents' Association is to raise the
report with Sir Hugh Orde, the new head of the Association of Chief
Police Officers.
More than half of the senior officers questioned also complained of
working 50- to 60-hour weeks, which the report said was a breach of
European working-time directive laws.
And one third said they would rather use their holiday allowance than
take an official sick day.
Superintendent Robin Jarman, a member of the national executive of the
Police Superintendents' Association (PSA), which commissioned the
report, said the survey showed the situation was getting worse, not
better.
He added: "It's disappointing that all of our efforts [to encourage
the police forces to take action] are not being listened to. It's
particularly sad because we are talking about officers who are loyal
and committed to the police."
Nearly 40 per cent of officers reported that senior management's
approach to managing performance was "harsh and unhelpful", and nearly
a third said chief constables showed "bullying behaviour". Others said
stress and depression could be triggered by the exposure to traumatic
incidents they encountered during their work.
But there were also worryingly high levels of demands placed on the
officers' daily workload. Particular concerns were raised about the
management of "difficult people", attending numerous meetings, and
receiving a high volume of emails and work phone calls at all times of
the day and night. Nearly 40 per cent said they did not have enough
resources or staff to do the job. And the vast majority said they
found it difficult to balance the demands of work with their family
lives.
Emma Donaldson-Fielder, the occupational psychologist who analysed the
research, said: "The majority of respondents perceive everyone in
their organisation to work long hours; working long hours is seen as a
way to show you are performing well and that people feel they mustn't
be seen as fallible. We still need to convince people that a
'persistent long hours' culture is unhealthy and contrary to the
European Working Time Directive, which is in place to protect staff."
The new figures for moderate or severe levels of anxiety symptoms are
6 per cent higher than they were three years ago, when the results of
a similar survey were published.
On behalf of ACPO, Vice-President Tim Hollis, Chief Constable of
Humberside said:
?The Superintendents Association undertakes personal resilience
surveys every three years, a move which I fully support as a means of
gauging emerging issues for their members. As such if there are
challenges to be discussed, ACPO would actively encourage a meeting
with the Association to find a way forward.
?Unfortunately the issue of targets is something that frankly is not
going to go away. Comparative crime statistics continue to feature
significantly in the ongoing monitoring of police performance and I
see little evidence that this will change in the near future. Indeed,
as budgets get tighter, pressure on the service in relation to
performance is likely to increase.
?High quality leadership training throughout the service is essential
if we are to meet the complex demands made of us without people
feeling poorly managed or led. For that reason, I welcome recent
improvements in training across the ranks and the leadership within
ACPO is keen to work with both the Superintendents Association and the
Federation in addressing any issues that they have identified.?
The full findings will be unveiled at the PSA's annual conference this month.
The stretched blue line: One chief superintendent's story
Chief Superintendent John Smith, 43 ? not his real name ? was in
charge of policing a large urban area in southern England before his
excessive workload led to severe depression
I joined my local police force in the south of England in the early
1980s because I wanted to serve my community as well as work in an
interesting job. I found I really liked the work and rose quickly
through the ranks so that by the time I was in my mid-30s I had been
appointed a superintendent responsible for 300 officers.
The new job was hard and I soon found myself putting in ridiculous
hours. There was also a lot of travelling to and from work which meant
I was leaving for the office at 6am and, because I had to go to lots
of meetings after work, I was not getting home until 9pm. But my
borough was winning awards for some of our projects and initiatives
which had helped to bring national attention to my officers. Because
of these successes, all the extra hours seemed worthwhile.
I decided I would push for the post of chief superintendent and
started putting in even more hours because I thought this was what was
required. But slowly my health began to suffer and that caused my
family life to suffer too. I was feeling more and more depressed about
little setbacks and because I didn't have any time to exercise, I was
also putting on weight.
It all came to a head when one of my superiors told me that I had to
go sick. I was finally diagnosed as having severe depression brought
on by the stress of my job. It was a shock but also a relief because
at last I could address the stresses and anxieties which had brought
on my illness. In the end I was off work for six months until I could
come back on a part-time basis.
