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Met's £36m sick bill
Last updated at 14:29pm on 11.04.07
'Disappointing': the number of Metropolitan Police officers off sick
Half of the Met's officers took an average of almost three weeks off sick last year, an investigation reveals today.
They were signed off suffering from conditions including stab wounds, gunshot injuries and broken legs as well as insect bites, colds and vertigo.
Today, politicians called for an inquiry into the sickness levels which cost the force £36million. But the Met said the figure indicated the increasing danger and stress faced by police officers. The average sickness rate in other jobs was seven days last year.
Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show 15,519 officers took an average of 14 days off sick.
Of the total police officer workforce, 50.36 per cent took no time off. But 2,158 were off for more than 28 days. Of those on long-term sick leave, 1,212 were off because they were injured on duty.
Members of the Metropolitan Police Authority called for an inquiry. Richard Barnes, a Tory member, said: "No company could sustain itself if half its staff were off for that amount of time. It seems incredibly disappointing."
The Met defended its record, saying the number of working days lost was lower than most other forces.
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