Police: Absenteeism

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many long-term absentee police officers of each (a) rank and (b) sex there were in each police force area in each year since 1997. (273527)

The available information shows the number of long-term absentees as at 31 March each year from 2003 to 2008. It is shown in the following tables.

*Number of police officers (full-time equivalents) on long-term absence*¹*, by police force area in England and Wales, rank and gender, as at 31 March: 2003-08*²
31 March 2003
	Male	Female
	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.
Avon and Somerset	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	23	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	11
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	3	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	13
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	1	4	20	0	0	0	0	0	2	11
Cheshire	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	10	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	17
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	1	1	7	0	0	0	0	0	2	5
Cumbria	0	0	0	1	0	5	25	0	0	0	0	0	0	14
Derbyshire	0	0	0	2	1	4	28	0	0	0	0	1	0	16
Devon and Cornwall	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	7	39	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	3	22
Dorset	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	3	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	3
Durham	0	0	0	0	1	2	16	0	0	0	0	0	2	11
Essex	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	5	30	³—	³—	³—	1	³—	3	23
Gloucestershire	1	0	1	0	2	2	15	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	3	4
Greater Manchester	0	0	0	3	9	26	224	0	0	0	1	4	7	143
Gwent	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	5	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	1
Hampshire	0	0	0	1	3	15	49	0	0	0	0	1	3	33
Hertfordshire	0	0	1	1	0	2	18	0	0	0	1	0	3	17
Humberside	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	8	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	20
Kent	³—	³—	³—	1	5	10	94	³—	³—	³—	1	1	4	32
Lancashire	³—	³—	³—	1	2	10	24	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	6	45
Leicestershire	0	0	0	0	1	9	29	0	0	0	0	0	2	27
Lincolnshire	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	3	18	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	0	16
London, City of	0	1	0	0	2	1	14	0	0	0	1	0	0	5
Merseyside	0	0	1	1	3	11	117	0	0	0	1	3	4	39
Metropolitan Police	0	0	0	7	33	128	747	0	0	0	0	4	25	332
Norfolk	0	0	0	0	1	3	10	0	0	0	0	0	3	9
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	1	1	0	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	10
Northumbria	³—	³—	1	³—	3	5	66	³—	³—	1	³—	³—	6	52
North Wales	³—	³—	³—	1	5	17	71	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	28
North Yorkshire	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	8
South Wales	0	0	0	1	2	2	19	0	0	0	0	0	3	16
South Yorkshire	³—	³—	1	³—	³—	2	8	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	10
Staffordshire	0	0	0	0	1	5	84	0	0	0	0	0	5	74
Suffolk	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	15	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	³—	10
Surrey	0	1	1	7	14	111	470	0	0	0	0	1	29	234
Thames Valley	0	0	0	0	1	12	60	0	0	1	0	1	2	52
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	12	0	0	1	0	0	1	3
West Mercia	³—	³—	³—	1	2	6	31	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	2	12
West Midlands	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—
West Yorkshire	³—	³—	³—	1	1	10	60	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	1	19
Wiltshire	³—	³—	1	³—	1	4	17	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	7

*31 March 2004*
	Male	Female
	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.
Avon and Somerset	0	0	0	0	3	26	170	0	0	0	1	1	0	71
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	0	2	2	19	0	0	0	0	0	0	18
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	0	4	28	0	0	0	0	0	4	16
Cheshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	3	20
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	1	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	1	4
Cumbria	0	0	0	1	0	3	28	0	0	0	1	0	3	14
Derbyshire	0	0	0	2	1	5	22	0	0	0	0	0	0	23
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	1	1	7	47	0	0	0	0	1	5	25
Dorset	0	0	0	0	1	12	55	0	0	0	0	1	4	33
Durham	0	0	0	0	0	0	7	0	0	0	0	0	0	11
Dyfed-Powys	³—	1	³—	³—	³—	1	5	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	2	³—
Essex	0	0	0	0	1	1	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	14
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	1	4	15	0	0	0	0	1	3	10
Greater Manchester	0	0	0	2	10	21	172	0	0	0	1	5	16	107
Gwent	0	0	0	0	1	4	32	0	0	0	0	0	1	14
Hampshire	0	0	0	0	3	13	72	0	0	0	0	1	12	48
Hertfordshire	1	0	0	0	0	1	24	0	0	0	0	2	3	36
Humberside	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	4	13	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	20
Kent	0	0	0	0	1	10	57	0	0	0	0	0	5	45
Lancashire	0	0	0	0	1	0	19	0	0	0	0	0	1	22
Leicestershire	0	0	0	1	0	7	30	0	0	0	0	0	2	19
Lincolnshire	0	0	1	1	0	9	14	0	0	0	0	0	2	16
London, City of	0	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	0	0	0	0	2	4
Merseyside	0	0	1	1	1	4	64	0	0	0	0	2	4	23
Metropolitan Police	0	1	0	5	10	64	401	0	0	0	2	5	24	284
Norfolk	0	0	0	1	1	4	17	0	0	0	1	0	3	16
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	0	1	6	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	29
Northumbria	0	0	0	0	2	13	80	0	0	0	0	0	5	36
North Wales	2	³—	³—	4	13	49	252	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	10	129
North Yorkshire	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	³—	1	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	5
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	2	24	99	0	0	1	0	1	3	41
South Wales	0	0	0	0	2	7	72	0	0	0	0	0	3	44
South Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	2	7	23	0	0	0	0	0	5	12
Staffordshire	0	0	0	0	1	7	29	0	0	0	0	0	5	29
Suffolk	³—	³—	³—	³—	1	1	9	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	³—	14
Surrey	0	0	0	0	1	8	30	0	0	0	0	0	1	22
Sussex	0	0	0	0	0	2	15	0	0	0	1	1	5	27
Thames Valley	0	0	0	0	2	12	62	0	0	1	0	2	4	58
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	1	4	12	0	0	0	0	0	1	7
West Mercia	0	0	0	0	1	13	57	0	0	0	0	0	2	34
West Midlands	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	110
West Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	3	6	61	0	0	1	0	1	4	41
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	10

*31 March 2005*
	Male	Female
	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.
Avon and Somerset	0	0	0	0	0	1	14	0	0	0	0	0	0	20
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	0	1	5	15	0	0	0	0	1	1	24
Cambridgeshire	0	1	0	0	0	3	18	0	0	0	0	1	3	19
Cheshire	0	0	0	0	2	8	46	0	0	0	0	3	1	29
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	0	6	15	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
Cumbria	0	0	0	0	2	3	19	0	0	0	0	1	3	15
Derbyshire	0	0	0	2	1	1	22	0	0	0	0	0	1	14
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	0	1	12	40	0	0	0	0	2	6	34
Dorset	0	0	0	2	1	7	27	0	0	0	0	0	3	23
Durham	0	1	0	0	0	6	37	0	0	0	0	0	0	20
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	1	5
Essex	0	0	0	1	2	2	15	0	0	0	1	0	2	25
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	2	4	15	0	0	0	0	1	0	15
Greater Manchester	0	0	0	2	6	19	187	0	0	0	0	6	12	131
Gwent	0	0	0	0	1	1	20	0	0	0	0	0	2	5
Hampshire	0	0	0	0	2	19	77	0	0	0	0	0	15	54
Hertfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	26	0	0	0	0	3	2	36
Humberside	0	0	0	0	0	3	41	0	0	0	0	0	0	9
Kent	0	0	0	0	1	2	33	0	0	0	2	0	2	40
Lancashire	0	0	0	0	1	4	45	0	0	0	0	2	3	45
Leicestershire	0	0	1	0	5	12	54	0	0	0	0	0	0	33
Lincolnshire	0	0	0	1	1	6	5	0	0	0	0	0	2	10
London, City of	0	0	0	0	0	1	9	0	0	0	0	0	0	8
Merseyside	0	0	1	0	1	9	72	0	0	0	1	0	0	33
Metropolitan Police	0	1	1	3	11	66	373	0	0	0	2	7	32	291
Norfolk	0	0	0	1	0	7	36	0	0	0	1	0	1	18
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	0	1	3	13	0	0	0	0	0	2	18
Northumbria	0	0	0	0	2	8	58	0	0	0	0	0	4	54
North Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	11
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	5	10	72	0	0	0	0	0	8	28
South Wales	0	0	1	0	1	8	64	0	0	0	0	0	2	40
South Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	5	7	39	0	0	0	0	0	4	25
Staffordshire	0	0	0	0	1	6	23	0	0	0	0	1	3	28
Suffolk	0	0	0	0	1	2	13	0	0	0	0	0	3	12
Surrey	0	0	0	0	3	5	29	0	0	0	0	2	2	31
Sussex	0	1	0	0	5	8	44	0	0	0	1	4	7	36
Thames Valley	0	0	1	0	4	11	71	0	0	1	0	2	2	68
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	1	1	17	0	0	0	0	0	0	11
West Mercia	0	0	0	0	2	4	30	0	0	0	0	0	2	16
West Midlands	0	0	0	0	0	3	13	0	0	0	0	2	6	74
West Yorkshire	0	1	0	0	3	9	120	0	0	0	0	0	8	66
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	1	3	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	11

*31 March 2006*
	Male	Female
	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.
Avon and Somerset	0	0	0	0	11	33	231	0	0	0	2	5	5	88
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	2	19	0	0	0	0	0	1	25
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	3	1	11	0	0	0	1	0	3	28
Cheshire	0	0	0	0	1	12	42	0	0	0	0	2	3	38
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	1	1	13	0	0	0	0	0	0	18
Cumbria	0	0	0	0	4	5	28	0	0	0	0	1	4	31
Derbyshire	0	0	0	1	3	4	27	0	0	0	0	1	2	24
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	0	1	7	54	0	0	0	0	1	4	47
Dorset	0	0	0	2	1	5	28	0	0	0	0	1	6	16
Durham	0	0	0	0	1	3	32	0	0	0	0	1	0	14
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	3	4	0	0	0	0	1	0	9
Essex	0	0	0	0	2	1	12	0	0	0	1	0	8	19
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	1	4	18	0	0	0	0	1	2	13
Greater Manchester	0	0	0	1	6	11	123	0	0	0	1	7	13	113
Gwent	0	0	1	0	0	4	26	0	0	0	0	0	1	6
Hampshire	0	0	0	0	5	24	127	0	0	0	0	3	16	78
Hertfordshire	0	0	0	0	0	0	25	0	0	0	0	1	3	33
Humberside	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	7
Kent	0	0	0	1	5	4	36	0	0	0	0	1	6	45
Lancashire	0	0	0	0	2	11	53	0	0	0	0	2	6	42
Leicestershire	0	0	1	0	3	3	34	0	0	0	0	2	1	24
Lincolnshire	0	0	0	0	0	7	22	0	0	0	0	0	2	19
London, City of	0	0	0	0	1	2	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	7
Merseyside	0	0	0	1	1	8	67	0	0	1	0	0	2	31
Metropolitan Police	0	0	3	5	15	69	383	0	0	0	2	8	35	303
Norfolk	0	0	0	1	0	3	17	0	0	1	1	2	1	17
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	1	2	3	17	0	0	0	0	0	1	15
Northumbria	0	0	0	1	5	15	105	0	0	0	0	0	7	51
North Wales	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
North Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	15
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	4	3	41	0	0	0	0	0	7	34
South Wales	0	0	0	1	4	21	67	0	0	0	1	1	7	54
South Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	1	4	20	0	0	0	0	2	3	20
Staffordshire	0	0	0	0	2	5	18	0	0	0	0	1	4	27
Suffolk	0	0	0	0	0	1	8	0	0	0	0	1	2	13
Surrey	0	0	0	0	0	3	17	0	0	0	0	2	2	22
Sussex	0	0	1	2	4	5	41	0	0	0	1	3	3	33
Thames Valley	0	0	0	0	0	5	38	0	0	1	1	3	3	45
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	2	1	10	0	0	0	0	0	0	12
West Mercia	0	1	1	0	2	7	41	0	0	0	1	0	5	30
West Midlands	0	0	0	0	0	3	15	0	0	0	0	3	12	62
West Yorkshire	0	0	0	1	3	7	72	0	0	0	0	0	4	53
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	1	2	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	19

*31 March 2007*
	Male	Female
	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.
Avon and Somerset	0	0	0	0	0	4	46	0	0	0	0	1	2	32
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	1	1	0	15	0	0	0	0	1	1	12
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	1	3	10	0	0	0	0	0	1	19
Cheshire	0	0	0	0	0	5	29	0	0	0	0	3	3	26
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Cumbria	0	0	0	0	2	2	28	0	0	0	0	0	1	29
Derbyshire	0	0	0	0	3	9	28	0	0	0	0	0	1	17
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	2	3	6	57	0	0	0	0	0	5	52
Dorset	0	0	0	1	1	5	21	0	0	0	0	1	5	21
Durham	0	0	0	0	0	5	23	0	0	0	0	2	1	17
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	2	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	16
Essex	0	0	0	0	1	9	34	0	0	0	1	0	8	36
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	0	5	17	0	0	0	0	1	4	17
Greater Manchester	0	1	0	2	4	10	104	0	0	0	1	2	9	117
Gwent	0	0	0	0	1	7	16	0	0	0	0	0	1	11
Hampshire	0	0	0	0	2	12	74	0	0	0	0	0	12	68
Hertfordshire	0	0	0	0	1	2	29	0	0	0	0	0	5	39
Humberside	0	0	0	0	0	1	5	0	0	0	0	0	1	31
Kent	0	1	0	0	2	1	41	0	0	0	0	2	6	46
Lancashire	0	0	0	1	2	7	42	0	0	0	0	1	7	51
Leicestershire	0	0	0	0	2	3	29	0	0	0	0	0	2	31
Lincolnshire	0	0	0	0	1	8	15	0	0	0	0	0	1	28
London, City of	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	0	0	0	0	0	1	10
Merseyside	0	1	0	0	3	10	64	0	0	0	1	0	4	36
Metropolitan Police	0	0	4	3	13	70	360	0	0	0	0	2	34	330
Norfolk	1	0	0	0	5	4	13	0	0	0	0	0	4	25
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	0	1	1	9	0	0	0	0	1	5	9
Northumbria	0	0	0	0	7	15	99	0	0	0	1	0	6	30
North Wales	0	0	0	0	1	2	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	4
North Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	2	23	0	0	0	0	0	1	25
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	1	6	34	0	0	0	0	1	6	35
South Wales	0	0	0	1	3	13	48	0	0	0	0	2	7	52
South Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	2	1	9	0	0	0	0	0	5	12
Staffordshire	0	0	0	0	2	5	14	0	0	0	0	0	1	13
Suffolk	0	0	0	0	1	1	11	0	0	0	0	1	3	19
Surrey	0	0	1	3	1	6	34	0	0	0	0	1	1	20
Sussex	0	0	1	3	2	11	39	0	0	0	0	1	4	36
Thames Valley	0	0	1	0	3	5	56	0	0	0	2	0	8	57
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	0	3	12	0	0	0	0	0	0	7
West Mercia	0	1	0	0	3	8	54	0	0	0	0	1	10	45
West Midlands	0	0	0	0	4	19	84	0	0	0	1	2	12	120
West Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	0	9	56	0	0	0	0	1	4	62
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	2	4	16	0	0	0	0	1	2	24

*31 March 2008*
	Male	Female
	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.	ACPO	Chief Supt.	Supt.	Chief Insp.	Insp.	Sgt.	Const.
Avon and Somerset	0	1	0	1	2	8	60	0	0	0	0	0	5	59
Bedfordshire	0	0	0	1	0	4	18	0	0	0	0	1	1	29
Cambridgeshire	0	0	0	0	1	3	26	0	0	0	0	2	0	31
Cheshire	0	0	0	0	1	5	32	0	0	0	1	4	4	33
Cleveland	0	0	0	0	0	1	6	0	0	0	0	0	0	22
Cumbria	0	0	0	1	3	3	40	0	0	0	0	0	3	27
Derbyshire	0	0	0	0	2	2	18	0	0	0	0	0	0	24
Devon and Cornwall	0	0	0	0	2	10	53	0	0	0	0	0	7	31
Dorset	0	0	0	1	3	10	43	0	0	0	0	1	4	17
Durham	0	0	0	0	0	3	23	0	0	0	0	0	5	19
Dyfed-Powys	0	0	0	0	0	3	13	0	0	0	0	0	2	17
Essex	0	0	0	0	1	4	29	0	0	0	1	1	7	41
Gloucestershire	0	0	0	0	0	0	11	0	0	0	0	0	0	18
Greater Manchester	0	0	0	0	4	12	108	0	0	0	0	1	16	115
Gwent	0	0	0	0	1	1	24	0	0	0	0	1	1	11
Hampshire	0	0	1	1	4	11	79	0	1	0	0	4	15	71
Hertfordshire	0	0	0	0	3	4	30	0	0	0	0	0	1	29
Humberside	0	0	0	0	2	3	17	0	0	0	1	0	0	26
Kent	0	1	0	0	3	3	36	0	0	0	0	0	8	58
Lancashire	0	0	0	0	3	7	53	0	0	0	0	0	3	48
Leicestershire	0	1	0	0	3	4	19	0	0	0	0	1	0	34
Lincolnshire	0	0	1	0	3	7	24	0	0	1	0	0	3	22
London, City of	0	0	1	0	0	2	15	0	0	0	0	0	3	8
Merseyside	0	0	0	0	3	9	67	0	0	0	0	0	3	44
Metropolitan Police	0	0	5	12	31	108	712	0	0	0	1	11	49	453
Norfolk	0	0	0	1	0	6	34	0	0	0	1	2	2	16
Northamptonshire	0	0	0	1	2	4	16	0	0	0	0	1	2	23
Northumbria	0	0	0	1	2	8	54	0	1	0	0	0	4	38
North Wales	0	0	0	0	2	2	4	0	0	0	0	0	1	11
North Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	1	5	15	0	0	0	0	0	3	26
Nottinghamshire	0	0	0	0	2	5	29	0	0	0	0	1	4	34
South Wales	0	0	0	0	3	6	62	0	0	1	1	0	8	63
South Yorkshire	0	0	0	0	1	1	14	0	0	0	0	0	1	16
Staffordshire	0	0	1	1	0	4	29	0	0	0	0	0	2	26
Suffolk	0	0	0	0	0	2	13	0	0	0	0	0	4	24
Surrey	0	0	0	4	2	7	37	0	0	0	0	0	4	10
Sussex	0	0	0	0	1	7	24	0	0	0	0	3	9	37
Thames Valley	0	0	0	0	2	8	38	0	0	0	1	2	12	72
Warwickshire	0	0	0	0	3	4	28	0	0	0	0	0	0	28
West Mercia	0	0	0	0	3	11	50	0	0	0	1	1	7	61
West Midlands	0	0	0	1	5	9	90	0	0	0	1	3	7	111
West Yorkshire	0	0	0	1	3	8	75	0	0	0	0	1	3	75
Wiltshire	0	0	0	0	0	3	14	0	0	0	0	2	1	14
¹ Long-term absences are only those absences that have lasted for more than 28 days. They include career breaks, compassionate leave, maternity/paternity leave, special leave, study leave, suspension and sick leave. ² These data are provisional and are unaudited by police forces. ³ Data not provided. Key: Chief Supt. = Chief Superintendent Supt. = Superintendent Chief Insp. = Chief Inspector Insp. = Inspector Sgt. = Sergeant Const. = Constable

Volume 493: debated on Wednesday 3 June 2009