Evaluation of physical health, mental wellbeing, and injury in a UK Police Firearms unit

ABSTRACT

The aim was to examine the health and wellbeing of UK police firearms officers and to identify the incidence and severity of work-related injuries. Data from 96 officers were derived from an online self-report survey. General health indicators, physical activity levels, WHO-5 wellbeing score, and injury data from the previous 12-months were collected. Thirty work-related injuries (31%) occurred with an injury rate of 31 injuries per 100 FTE worked within the firearms unit in the previous year. Fifty per cent of officers took no time off for recovery. Twenty-nine per cent of injuries were classified as severe and the mechanisms of more severe injuries were linked to occupational demands. Officers who exercised ≥four times per week reported significantly less injuries, while low physical activity levels were associated with significantly lower wellbeing. UK police firearms officers are at a high risk of occupational injury, and physical activity can play an important role in reducing injury and improving wellbeing.

KEYWORDS:

• Tactical police
• firearms
• injury
• wellbeing
• physical activity

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Eddie Bradley

Dr Eddie Bradley is a senior lecturer at the University of Sunderland. Dr Bradley is the strategic research lead for the Exercise, Sport & Rehabilitative Therapies team. His research covers female sports, the biomechanical assessment of human movement for sport and health and is a BASES-accredited Sport and Exercise Scientist.

Saeed Fayaz

Dr Saeed Fayaz is a senior lecturer at the University of Sunderland. Dr Fayaz is a registered physiotherapist and his research centres on the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injury, focusing on the shoulder, knee, and lower back regions of the body.

Chris Farish

Chris Farish is a sargeant in the Northumbria Police Force and has worked as a police firearms officer. He has an interest in improving officer capabilities through improved physical training and development of a better understanding of the impact of firearms equipment on occupational performance.

Morc Coulson

Morc Coulson is a senior lecturer at the University of Sunderland. Mr Coulson has many years experience of the health and fitness industry in relation to training and qualifications. He has an active interest in exercise referral schemes and is chair of the Sector Skills Council CPD panel.