Tayside Police sick days to be compared to public sector

The rising absenteeism within Tayside Police is to be compared to other public sector employers.

Tayside Joint Police Board made the decision as it sat at the force’s Dundee headquarters on West Bell Street.

It has emerged that almost 3000 working days were lost through the sickness absence of officers in the first quarter of this year alone.

The total number of working days lost at Tayside Police rose from 2740 in the period January to March 2010 to 2995 in January to March this year.

Over the full year, from April 1, 2010, 414 days were lost due to accidents or violence towards police officers on duty, with 10 police staff being absent for the same reasons.

The board’s sub-committee, made up of senior police officials and councillors from across Tayside, are to compare the service with other public bodies, including all three of Tayside’s local authorities.

The information will be reviewed at the police board’s next meeting.