Police morale and staff cuts have been blamed for causing spiralling officer sick days which have soared by 10,000 over the past three years.

In 1998/1999 the number of days lost through police sickness was 38,748 - compared with 28,399 in 1996/1997.

The figures reflect an upturn in the average number of sick days per police officer from ten to 13. The level of civilian staff sickness has also risen.

During the same time, the number of working days lost through illness also rose, from 16,903 in 1996/1997 to 19,232 in 1998/1999.

North Essex MP Bernard Jenkin said: "A sure sign of declining morale is rising sickness and absence.

"This is a symptom of very deep-seated problems in the police service which involve cutbacks in police numbers.

"Police numbers are falling and crime levels are rising. Those who turn up have too much to do.

"This country has the best police force in the world and this county has one of the finest constabularies in England, and they deserve recognition for what they do."

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said without figures which compared Essex with other constabularies it was difficult to know whether it was a bad sign or not.

She said police sickness was different to most other professions in that officers were more likely to be injured and if they were injured they would be unable to go to work.

While teachers with a broken leg can go to work in plaster, the same was not true with police officers and this had a bearing on the number of work days lost.

In a bid to combat stress suffered by staff, which accounts for some of the days lost each year, Essex Police are developing strategies to combat the amount of time taken off through stress.

The personnel section came up with a plan to send "stress packs" to all employees who go sick.

The packs might contain advice and vouchers for stress therapies like acupuncture and counselling.

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