Patterns of injury on duty and perceptions of support amongst serving police personnel in England and Wales

ABSTRACT

This article reports the findings of a large-scale survey (N = 10,897) which sought to reveal patterns of injury on duty (IoD) and perceptions of organisational and other support amongst serving police personnel in England and Wales. We found that IoD is a multi-faceted issue incorporating wide-ranging physical and psychological injuries and illnesses. We also found that, by their own testimony, IoD is not experienced equally amongst police personnel. Reported experiences of IoD together with satisfaction with, and priorities for, support in the aftermath of injury were shaped by injury type, the role played in the police organisation and the individual characteristics of police personnel, notably, gender. Conceptual and practical implications are discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Police personnel
• injury on duty
• mental ill-health
• online survey

Acknowledgements

With thanks to Dr Sarah Earthy, University of Winchester, and Professor Jon Garland, University of Surrey.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Jane L. Fielding http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2897-3301

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Police Dependants' Trust, an independent charity that provides support to injured officers and their families.