Newly released data from Dorset Police shows the force lost over 16,700 working days to staff sickness in 2024, with long-term illness accounting for nearly four-fifths of all absence.
The figures come from a Freedom of Information (FOI) disclosure published by the force this month. The data captures sickness among police staff. excluding officers and anyone away on secondment or extended leave, and uses the force’s standard formula to calculate working days lost.
Long-term sickness continues to dominate absences
According to the report, Dorset Police staff were absent for 16,704.71 working days in 2024. Of that total:
- 13,076.43 days (78.28%) were due to long-term sickness absences lasting more than seven days.
- 3,628.29 days (21.72%) were the result of short-term sickness.
Long-term sickness was linked to just 396 occurrences, compared with 1,415 short-term events, highlighting how a smaller number of more serious cases account for the vast majority of lost working days.
On average, a long-term absence lasted more than 68 days. Short-term sickness averaged just over five days.
Officer absence shows similar patterns
The disclosure also provides a snapshot of police officer sickness from 2018, the earliest comparable year available. Officers were absent for 13,096 working days, with long-term sickness again representing the majority — around 80% of all days lost.
While the figures from 2018 and 2024 are not directly comparable — due to workforce size changes and differing officer/staff groups — both sets show the same trend: long-term illness consistently drives most lost working days.
Rising mental-health pressures inside policing
Separate FOI requests published this year reveal a growing number of Dorset Police officers and staff being signed off with mental-health conditions, including stress, anxiety, depression and PTSD.
In 2024 alone, 181 officers and 129 staff members were recorded as absent due to mental-health-related reasons. Working days lost to PTSD in particular have increased sharply, rising from just over 230 days in 2020 to more than 1,470 days in 2024.
The Dorset Police Federation said 211 officers were signed off in 2024–25 for stress, depression, anxiety or PTSD, describing the number as “still too many”.
A spokesperson added:
“Demand remains high, and policing continues to take a significant toll on the mental wellbeing of our officers. We need earlier intervention, better staffing levels and improved welfare support.”
Impact on staffing and response times
Long-term sickness places pressure on police resources, often requiring overtime to maintain staffing levels, although Dorset Police has confirmed it does not hold detailed cost information for sickness absence.
The force notes that changes in “establishment” the size of its workforce may affect raw figures year-to-year. However, the overall pattern remains clear: prolonged absences among a relatively small number of employees are creating significant operational challenges.
Calls for greater transparency and support
Although the FOI provides total sickness figures, it does not break down illness types for the general workforce, such as musculoskeletal issues, respiratory illness or psychological conditions, nor does it include information by department or rank.
Wellbeing advocates argue that more granular data would enable the public and oversight bodies to understand better how workplace pressures affect Dorset’s policing capability.
Looking ahead
As Dorset Police continues to manage increasing demand, rising mental-health cases, and the ongoing effects of long-term sickness, the force faces a challenge shared nationwide: maintaining a resilient workforce while ensuring the well-being of the people who serve.
Further FOI disclosures are expected in 2025, which may shed more light on sickness trends across the force.
Data source: Dorset Police
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