Sickness levels among Cambridgeshire’s 1,300 police officers is on the increase, says chief constable Alec Wood.

In a report to the business coordination board of police and crime commissioner Jason Ablewhite he says eight days were lost per officer in the past 12 months through sickness.

Mr Wood says the figures were compiled to the end of June and the figures are “notably higher than at the same point last year when an average of 6.5 days was lost”.

He says the Cambridgeshire figures are still below the national average.

But the chief constable also reveals that the 800 police staff in Cambridgeshire is taking more time off through ill health.

“In contrast whilst higher than police officer sickness and the national average, police staff sickness has remained relatively stable over the last three reporting period,” he says.

These staff have taken an average of 10.2 days off in the 12 months to June.

Mr Wood says there has been media focus on police officer fitness levels; Cambridgeshire levels are in line with the regional average, 97.1 per cent v 97.4 per cent, and marginally lower than the national average of 98 per cent.