13/07/2026
“Resilience is not an endless resource. If people are continually exposed to trauma, carrying excessive workloads, and feeling they never have time to recover, it will eventually affect their health.”
This was West Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Craig Nicholls’ reaction to new research that found 19,443 UK officers were signed off work in the past year due to stress, depression, anxiety or PTSD.
The figure is up nearly 10% from the previous year, when 17,752 officers in the UK were signed off work for mental health reasons. In West Yorkshire Police alone, 781 officers were signed off in 2025-26, up from 655 the year before – a 19% rise.
This is the fifth year in a row that the number has gone up, and it is a huge 209% higher than when Police Oracle first ran the survey 13 years ago. Of the forces that provided figures to the Freedom of Information request both this year and last year, 60% reported an increased number of officers being signed off for mental health reasons.
Craig said: “These figures are worrying, but sadly they won’t surprise anyone working in policing. Behind every number is a colleague who has reached the point where they need time away from work. Nobody joins the police expecting an easy career. Officers understand the demands of the job, but there is a difference between a demanding role and one that has become relentless.
“Our members tell us they rarely get chance to catch their breath. One job rolls straight into the next. They deal with fatalities, serious violence, domestic abuse, child protection investigations and mental health incidents, often all on the same shift. They are expected to absorb trauma, make critical decisions under pressure and then move on as though nothing has happened.
“People often think this is only affecting response officers, but it isn’t. Detectives are carrying significant workloads and investigating increasingly complex offences. Neighbourhood officers are trying to maintain visible policing while being pulled in different directions. Sergeants and inspectors are balancing operational demand with the responsibility of looking after their people. Senior leaders are trying to make limited resources stretch even further. The pressure is shared right across policing.
“We talk a lot about resilience, and police officers are incredibly resilient. They have to be. But resilience is not an endless resource. If people are continually exposed to trauma, carrying excessive workloads and feeling they never have time to recover, it will eventually affect their health.”
These figures were released as the Government announced a £2.4 million funding package of support services, through the National Police Wellbeing Service, to help officers and staff with the psychological impact of working in traumatic environments.
As part of this, around 150,000 clinical psychological risk assessments and mental health checks will be available each year to officers and staff in operational roles. Forces will also roll out trauma-tracking devices to record officer and staff exposure to traumatic incidents. And a new sleep, fatigue and recovery app, ResetU, will be made available to all forces. The funding will also support the continuation of the Mental Health Crisis Line (0300 131 2789), which officers and staff can call if they are feeling at breaking point or suicidal.
Crime and Policing Minister Sarah Jones said: “Our police officers and staff put their lives at risk and operate under immense pressure each and every day. They demonstrate exceptional courage and resilience to keep us safe, and it is crucial we protect them in return. As we deliver our reforms to policing, we will ensure that their wellbeing is prioritised, protected and never treated as an afterthought.”
Craig added: “The Home Office measures announced this week are a positive step, and anything that encourages officers to seek help earlier has to be welcomed. A trauma tracker and better awareness training have the potential to make a difference, but only if they are part of something much bigger.
“We cannot keep treating the symptoms while ignoring the causes. If workloads remain unsustainable and demand continues to outstrip resources, wellbeing initiatives on their own will never solve the problem. What officers need is early access to specialist support, time to recover after traumatic incidents, enough colleagues on duty to share the workload, and leaders who have the capacity to lead rather than simply respond to the next crisis.
“Police officers across West Yorkshire will continue doing what they have always done. They will put the public first and get on with the job. They are incredibly committed to the communities they serve. What they deserve in return is more than recognition. They deserve action. Not in another year’s time, and not after another review. They deserve it now.”
