Injury on Duty: Experiences of Police Personnel Across England and Wales

This national study examined how police officers, staff, PCSOs and special constables experience injuries on duty, the support they receive, the challenges they face when returning to work, and the long-term impact on wellbeing and careers. The findings highlight widespread psychological and physical harm, gaps in organisational support, barriers to reporting, and inconsistency in access to treatment and adjustments.

Status label: Completed
Topic: Academic Research
Resources for: Wellbeing teams, HR/OH, senior leaders, policing policy, support charities
Research period: 2015–2016
Research team: University of Surrey and Police Care UK (formerly known as the Police Dependants’ Trust)
Downloads: Full report PDF (2016)

Current Police Personnel: National Injury on Duty Research Study

This national study explored the experiences of nearly 11,000 police personnel who suffered physical or psychological injuries while working for the police. It provides a detailed picture of how injuries occur, the support available, where gaps exist and how these experiences affect recovery, performance, wellbeing and long-term career trajectories.Interviews with injured officers and staff added rich insight into organisational culture, stigma, barriers to help-seeking and the pressures of returning to work.

Top finding: Psychological injuries were the most commonly reported harm, yet received the lowest satisfaction with support, revealing a significant unmet need across policing.

Why is it important?

Policing exposes people to high levels of physical danger and psychological trauma. Injuries do not just affect the individual; they impact teams, organisational resilience, public service delivery and operational readiness. Understanding how people are affected and how they are supported helps forces and national bodies design better systems of prevention, early intervention and recovery.

Focus of research

Identify typical pathways following an injury on duty
Explore the support accessed immediately after injury and during time off
Understand the return-to-work experience and adjustments provided
Examine organisational, cultural and personal factors influencing recovery
Identify unmet needs and gaps in current provision
Inform the development of Police Care UK grants and wider support services

Background

Police Care UK (formerly the Police Dependants’ Trust) commissioned this national research to address gaps in understanding the impact of injuries on duty. Injuries are often under-reported due to stigma and fear of professional repercussions. This study provides a comprehensive picture of the scale and nature of harm experienced by police personnel, and the challenges they face in securing timely and appropriate support.

How research is/was conducted (Methodology)

National online survey of serving officers, staff, PCSOs and special constables (n=10,987)
Semi-structured interviews with injured personnel across six forces (n=59)
Desk research and stakeholder consultation
Mixed-methods design combining survey data and lived-experience interviews
Representation across frontline response, neighbourhood policing, investigations, communications, support functions and specialist roles

Partners and Funding

Funded by Police Care UK (formerly the Police Dependants’ Trust) and undertaken by the University of Surrey, with participation from police personnel across England and Wales.

Timeline

2015: Initial scoping, stakeholder engagement and survey design
2015–2016: National survey distribution
Early 2016: Follow-up interviews with injured personnel
November 2016: Publication of the final report

Results

Key findings

Over 80% of respondents reported at least one injury linked to their police work.
Psychological injuries (anxiety, depression, PTSD) were the most commonly reported form of harm.
Frequent physical injuries included fractures, sprains, head injuries, and lacerations.
Many personnel under-reported injuries due to stigma, fear of redeployment, career concerns, and not feeling believed.
Injuries significantly reduced overall health ratings, with psychological injuries linked to the lowest recovery outcomes.
Occupational stressors had as much or greater impact on wellbeing than operational trauma.

Support and recovery

Most sought help from their GP, with external services rated more helpful than in-force provision.
Charitable and private services (residential rehabilitation, private physiotherapy, benevolent funds) were among the highest-rated forms of support.
In-force occupational health was often described as inconsistent, difficult to access, and heavily focused on return-to-work rather than holistic recovery.

Return to work

Nearly half returned on recuperative duties and a third on restricted or light duties.
Workloads were often poorly managed for those on adjusted duties, with tasks fluctuating or lacking structure.

Longer-term impact

Injuries affected confidence, operational performance, family life, and mental health.
Financial impacts included loss of overtime, private treatment costs, and concerns about sickness triggers or performance procedures.

Additional resources linked to this research

Organisational support and fairness study (2016)
Former officer injury research (2016) documenting long-term physical, financial and psychological effects
Career transition (2016)