RESEARCH The Impact of Inadequate Break Facilities on Police Officer Wellbeing
MEAL BREAK OR ‘BREAKDOWN’?
In 2021 Nick Kealey (Liverpool John Moores University) and Dr Sean Bell (Open University) wrote an article for Policing Insight regarding the demise of police canteens and the potential impact on police wellbeing. Soon after, they were joined by Dr Carina O’Reilly (University of Lincoln) and Dr Hannah Hale and Dr Shona Morrison (Open University) who jointly commenced to undertake a program of research into the topic with a view to better understanding what the issues of a changing police estate and more isolated working practices have had on police officer wellbeing. There are several reasons why the current situation exists. The closure of police stations and subsequently canteens has been taking place at an alarming rate since 2010. An LBC (2022)
16 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025
submitted Freedom of Information request to all 43 police forces in England and Wales found that since 2010, the beginning of the austerity-era cuts, at least 663 police stations have closed. Alongside this, operational
THE SURVEY
“There is a sense of guilt by officers taking breaks and a culture of worry that supervisors will be unhappy with staff for taking a break.”
decision making has reduced double crewing, introduced staggered shifts and increased the use of IT and mobile data. To top it all, workload has increased placing additional pressure on officers to complete tasks instead of taking a break. This perfect storm results in increasing pressure on officers, and isolation from colleagues.
With the support and assistance of the Police Federation England and Wales, Scottish Police Federation, Police Federation for Northern Ireland and British Transport Police Federation, they commenced a survey in 2024 across serving police officers up to the ranks of Chief Inspector. This resulted in a total of 1,914 responses providing an invaluable source of data to ascertain the views and experiences of officers. The aim of the research
was to understand how shared spaces are used by police officers, particularly in ways that contribute to wellbeing, and the implications of changes to the provision of these spaces. The study still has some way to run, but the initial findings are telling about how police officers are valued and treated by their forces and senior officers.
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