1000 COPS OFF ON THE SICK

Absences are 'only respite officers get'

- NORMAN SILVESTER

MORE than 1000 cops are on sick leave - three times the average workplace absence rate.

The disturbing figures have been blamed by union chiefs on the "relentless" workload pressures they face.

A total of 1030 officers were off ill according to the most recent police absence figures at the end of September - 6.3 per cent of the 16,631 total.

In Contact Command Control, which handles 999 calls from the Scottish public, 61 cops were off work - 10.2 per cent of all staff there.