Police get two days' extra leave a year for '˜spiritual wellbeing'

Officers at an English police force are to be given two extra days' paid holiday per year to improve their 'spiritual and emotional well-being'.
Polie officers in part of the English force are getting two days' extra leave a year for their 'spiritual and emotional wellbeing'. Pic: John DevlinPolie officers in part of the English force are getting two days' extra leave a year for their 'spiritual and emotional wellbeing'. Pic: John Devlin
Polie officers in part of the English force are getting two days' extra leave a year for their 'spiritual and emotional wellbeing'. Pic: John Devlin

Lincolnshire Police said the initiative would make sure officers had sufficient rest and recuperation time, a move which they say is a first for policing.

It is hoped the change will help officers cope with the pressures of the job, which are “taking a greater toll on them”.

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The force claimed the policy due to be put in place next month would put them in a better position to meet the “particular needs” of a “large rural county”.

Officers will be entitled to as many as 32 days holiday a year after the change.

Chief Constable Bill Skelly said: “This is one of a number of initiatives that we will introduce over the next few months.

“I have been most impressed by the commitment of Lincolnshire Police staff and officers, but I am increasingly seeing the impact that this can have on their physical and mental wellbeing.

“By encouraging our staff to take time to look after themselves I believe that we can make an improvement to how they feel at work.”

Mr Skelly added: “We hope that this will help to reduce sickness and improve levels of resilience across the organisation.”

In a statement confirming the initiative, the force said: “As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring the mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual welfare of our staff we are continually looking at ways to improve and look after the well-being of every individual in the Lincolnshire Police family.

“We know that the demands placed on officers and staff who work in policing are great and we know, that without the space and time to allow for rest and recuperation, these demands can take a toll on an individual.

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“In Lincolnshire, our workforce has to cope with the significant and particular needs of policing in a large rural county.

“Recent surveys have shown that those involved in policing are regularly working longer hours than they are obliged to, that the incidents and pressures they face are taking a greater toll on them, and that the ability to recover is being compromised by the current shift patterns.”