Home Secretary welcomes LJMU monitoring of police officer health

Home Secretary Suella Braverman says she is looking forward to the impact of a LJMU project researching fatigue and sickness in the police force.

“It will be incredibly helpful to see the results, with 10 to 12 forces due to take part,” she told the Police Federation conference in Manchester yesterday (October 11, 2023).

“I am interested in the Phase 2 of the fatigue project, led by the National Police Wellbeing Service in partnership with Liverpool John Moores University, said the Home Secretary.

“It is a unique research project, not just in UK policing, but in the world, and we are already seeing significant improvements in those involved in the study, with improved sleep, reduced fatigue, and better recovery.”

Led by the School of Justice Studies, police officers and police staff in Merseyside Police have been wearing wrist bands and using biometric technologies that monitor stress levels, as part 12 studies focusing on police welfare.

Dr Carol Cox, Head of the Liverpool Centre of Advanced Policing Studies, said: "We are excited to work with the National Police Wellbeing Service on this highly innovative programme which has developed rapidly.

"We can already see significant  potential to impact upon poor sleep and fatigue by using wearable technology when it is delivering in the right way putting data privacy and user feedback at the heart of the process. 

"We believe this is already the largest policing project of its kind and the world and look forward to taking this even further over the next 3-5 years."

The Government is funding the scheme as part of The Police Covenant, a national pledge to do more to support the men and women who serve in often dangerous roles.

Braverman added: “I am very grateful to the volunteers – officers from a number of ‘high-fatigue’ front line roles, such as investigators, response, and firearm teams.”