“If you are struggling with tiredness, burnout, an excessive workload and poor support, please contact the branch"

9 January 2024

A National wellbeing survey has revealed that 69.6% of officers are reporting high levels of fatigue, with very high levels experienced by 28.9% of officers.  

https://www.oscarkilo.org.uk/news/national-police-wellbeing-survey-2023-results

A separate survey around driving home from night shifts and the impact on road safety has revealed one in two police officers and staff on way home from work have been involved in a ‘near miss’ incident, such as a kerb strike, lane departure or almost had a collision  

https://www.college.police.uk/article/shift-work-policing-and-road-safety

Iain Prideaux, Vice Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: “I have always taken a particular interest in the National Police Wellbeing Survey conducted by Durham University on behalf of Oscar Kilo. The 2023 survey was vital to capture your lived experience.  

“Sadly, once again it paints a national picture of significant concern around stress, anxiety and trauma which is causing worryingly high and very high levels of fatigue. This combined with officers reporting lower average levels of feeling valued by their force and increased intention to quit, brings into sharp relief, that officers are suffering with burnout.  

“2024 has already started with a redistribution of workload and as Avon and Somerset Constabulary continues to focus on its 5-year strategy to outstanding policing, trauma informed stands out to me. There will be a focus on leadership and changing culture in 2024 and I am determined to ensure that the Constabulary takes trauma informed practice seriously and invest in your health and wellbeing. High levels of fatigue risk your health and safety and it causes poor decision making.  

“If you are struggling with tiredness, burnout, an excessive workload and poor support, please contact the branch and we will support you and address it.”