Essex: Hungover Officers Pulling Sickies

2 October 2013, 10:40 | Updated: 2 October 2013, 11:03

The Chief Constable of Essex Police says some of his officers are taking days off sick because they are hungover.

In an interview with the Essex Police Federation Magazine, Stephen Kavanagh said: "There is also a group - a small group but a group nonetheless - that are abusing the sickness management process. 

"If they can't get the time off, they take it sick. If they have a heavy night, on occasions they are taking days off - they will be challenged and if necessary they will be dealt with. 

"What I want to do is have a sickness management process that supports those who are genuinely in need. 

"I want a force that has a heart. But every time someone throws a sickie they are letting their mates down, they are letting the community down. And the only people who suffer are their friends who then have to pick up their workload. 

"You look at nurses. Broomfield Hospital [in Chelmsford], they average [seven] days lost a year in sickness. 

"I think our officers are on 12 days a year average. We should be much better than where we are at the moment. 

"I will be looking to work with the Federation to say how do support those who are genuinely in need and how do we work together to get people to stop abusing the system and overloading their mates." 

He was speaking in an interview to mark his first 100 days in the job.