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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/sep/04/police-cuts-and-rise-affecting-senior-officers-mental-health
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| Police cuts and crime rise 'affecting senior officers' mental health' | Police cuts and crime rise 'affecting senior officers' mental health' |
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| Police are facing a “perfect storm” of staff cuts, new threats and a rise in crime, with many now feeling overworked and showing symptoms of mental ill health, according to a senior officer. | Police are facing a “perfect storm” of staff cuts, new threats and a rise in crime, with many now feeling overworked and showing symptoms of mental ill health, according to a senior officer. |
| Ch Supt Gavin Thomas, the president of the Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales, said a confluence of pressures was leaving forces reliant on fewer officers working longer hours. | Ch Supt Gavin Thomas, the president of the Police Superintendents Association of England and Wales, said a confluence of pressures was leaving forces reliant on fewer officers working longer hours. |
| Half of senior officers have symptoms of anxiety, and 27% show signs of depression, a survey for the association found. Four-fifths say the depth and breadth of their responsibilities leads to them working excessive hours. | Half of senior officers have symptoms of anxiety, and 27% show signs of depression, a survey for the association found. Four-fifths say the depth and breadth of their responsibilities leads to them working excessive hours. |
| In a speech at the association’s annual conference in Warwickshire on Monday, Thomas will urge the policing minister Nick Hurd to review funding and resources. | In a speech at the association’s annual conference in Warwickshire on Monday, Thomas will urge the policing minister Nick Hurd to review funding and resources. |
| “I suggest we have a perfect storm developing comprised of fewer resources, reduced public services, new threats and a worrying increase in some types of traditional crime,” he will say. | “I suggest we have a perfect storm developing comprised of fewer resources, reduced public services, new threats and a worrying increase in some types of traditional crime,” he will say. |
| “If the model for delivering policing services in the future is fewer people working longer, each doing ever more, then I suggest that model is fundamentally flawed.” | “If the model for delivering policing services in the future is fewer people working longer, each doing ever more, then I suggest that model is fundamentally flawed.” |
| Thomas will say the circumstances show the need for an open and honest review of the service involving the government, local authorities, police and crime commissioners, and the public: “Otherwise we are being driven not by the need to provide the best possible policing service that meets the needs of the public, but primarily by the need to save money.” | Thomas will say the circumstances show the need for an open and honest review of the service involving the government, local authorities, police and crime commissioners, and the public: “Otherwise we are being driven not by the need to provide the best possible policing service that meets the needs of the public, but primarily by the need to save money.” |
| According to the association, its personal resilience survey paints a picture of police superintendents “under increasing demand and pressure”. It found that only 27% of members felt they had enough resources to do their job properly. Around three-quarters had not taken all their leave or annual rest days in the last year. | According to the association, its personal resilience survey paints a picture of police superintendents “under increasing demand and pressure”. It found that only 27% of members felt they had enough resources to do their job properly. Around three-quarters had not taken all their leave or annual rest days in the last year. |
| The body is calling for new measures to improve health and welfare, including annual health screenings beginning within the next 12 months; an even and fair distribution of responsibilities among superintendents; and improved systems for accurately recording and monitoring the number of hours worked. | The body is calling for new measures to improve health and welfare, including annual health screenings beginning within the next 12 months; an even and fair distribution of responsibilities among superintendents; and improved systems for accurately recording and monitoring the number of hours worked. |
| “It is frankly unacceptable that the senior operational leaders in policing are under so much pressure that a quarter of them have signs of depression,” Thomas told the Press Association. | “It is frankly unacceptable that the senior operational leaders in policing are under so much pressure that a quarter of them have signs of depression,” Thomas told the Press Association. |
| “These are people leading huge commands, some bigger than entire forces. These are people carrying responsibility for public safety, protecting the most vulnerable, for countering terrorism, for running firearms operations. | “These are people leading huge commands, some bigger than entire forces. These are people carrying responsibility for public safety, protecting the most vulnerable, for countering terrorism, for running firearms operations. |
| “It is not a healthy position for the service to be in and it definitely is not in the interests of the public.” | “It is not a healthy position for the service to be in and it definitely is not in the interests of the public.” |
| Hurd is expected to tell the conference of £1.5m given by the government to the mental health charity Mind to help emergency service workers cope with the response to recent tragedies. He will also point out the £9m given to the police transformation fund to pilot and fund a welfare support service for police and police staff. | Hurd is expected to tell the conference of £1.5m given by the government to the mental health charity Mind to help emergency service workers cope with the response to recent tragedies. He will also point out the £9m given to the police transformation fund to pilot and fund a welfare support service for police and police staff. |