RESEARCH
Although not an exact match, the demographics of the respondents sit comfortably with the national picture and from a statistical point of view are more than acceptable and representative of the police community. The majority were constables (66%) and sergeants (21%). Participants included those from response (28%), investigations (23%) and neighbourhoods (12%) and officers from roads policing, custody, trainers, dog handlers, close protection and others. Most respondents were of longer service (52% had 16 years plus) and could recall police canteen provision before the current demise in the police estate.
RESULTS The data provides evidence that officers are regularly missing breaks with 61% working through breaks and 25% of officers saying they regularly did not have a break period which should be allocated time to eat, refresh, use toilet facilities, share experiences (positive or otherwise), and destress. For those that
did take breaks, more officers (44%) are spending time alone during breaks than they did previously (16%). Therefore, it is not surprising that more than half of respondents (51%) said they had always or often experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety, or
LACK OF BREAKS Several respondents described breaks being actively or passively discouraged by management. “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.” Many officers report
“In my role as a response sergeant, I do not get allocated breaks there is no one else to cover to even allow me 10/15 mins to decompress or to have some time away from the radio.”
other difficulties with mental health and wellbeing over the last 12 months. Some 67% of respondents said their stress and mental health issues were caused or made worse by work. These figures on their own begin to
paint a poor picture of police wellbeing, but it is arguable the free text responses volunteered by officers paints an even grimmer picture. Five key themes were identified: Lack of Breaks; Inadequate Facilities; Impact on Mental Health; Isolation and Lack of Team Bonding; Management and Organisational Support.
that they rarely get breaks due to high workloads and constant demands. This lack of breaks leads to fatigue and stress, impacting their overall wellbeing and job performance. The
constant pressure in response policing and frequently back-office roles, means that officers often do not get the opportunity to take proper breaks. Instead, they resort to quick, makeshift breaks that do not allow them to rest or decompress effectively. This continuous cycle of work without adequate rest leads to physical and mental exhaustion, making it difficult for officers to maintain their performance and wellbeing. The lack of structured break times also means that officers are always on high alert and unable to fully relax, even for a short period.
17 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025
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