Hundreds of police restricted by illness

Hundreds of police officers in the West Midlands are unable to carry out their full range of duties because of illness or injury, new figures revealed today.

Statistics in a police authority report show that 554 officers within the force have a restriction from performing 'ordinary' duties. That represents 6.7 per cent of the force's total headcount of 8,100 officers.

Of those, 252 officers are permanently restricted from carrying out full duties, according to Chief Constable Chris Sims' report. That figure includes 205 constables, 35 sergeants, 11 inspectors and one chief inspector.

However, 28 officers permanently restricted have now been forced to retire through the A19 pension regulation, which forces officers with 30 years or more service to retire.

A further 22 officers will be retired by March next year. By March 2015, 104 police officers with permanent restriction will have been compulsory retired.

Officers are placed on restricted duties because illness or injury means there is no prospect of a return to full duties in the short term. Among the ailments which could put an officer in this category is a bad back, mental health problems or diabetes.