Thinner blue line with 500 force staff off on sick

Shock long-term absence toll of stressed-out police

- NORMAN SILVESTER

ALMOST 500 police officers and civilian support staff are currently on long-term sick leave, according to a new report.

The figures released under Freedom of Information come at a time of increasing violence towards officers and claims of plummeting morale and mounting workloads leading to stress and other mental health problems.

The Police Scotland report shows 340 cops and 143 office workers on long-term sick.

Three cops have been off for more than three years. A further 16 have been absent for between two and three years and 48 absent for between one year and two years.