The latest figures paint a stark picture for policing in the UK: 17,752 officers were signed off work for mental health-related issues, including stress, depression, anxiety, and PTSD – in the financial year 2024–2025. That’s a 22% increase from the year before, based on a Freedom of Information request to 47 UK forces.
Of the 45 forces that provided comparable year-on-year data, 33 reported an increase in the number of officers unable to work due to psychological ill health.
These statistics are more than numbers, they represent thousands of officers who are emotionally depleted, overwhelmed, and feeling disconnected from their profession. It is a wake up call.
The Stress Behind the Badge:
Policing is consistently ranked among the most stressful professions in the UK. Officers confront traumatic incidents, violence, safeguarding concerns, public scrutiny, and high-stakes decisions, all while contending with resource shortages and increasing caseloads.
According to the Police Federation of England and Wales, over 79% of officers surveyed in 2023 reported experiencing symptoms of poor mental health linked to their work.
A further 95% agreed that ‘low morale’ is widespread among the workforce.
Research by Mind’s Blue Light Programme has also shown that police officers are twice as likely to experience mental health issues compared to the general population, yet often struggle to access timely support.
Burnout isn’t just a personal issue, it has operational consequences:
- Reduced decision-making capacity
- Higher rates of absence and turnover
- Increased risk to public and officer safety
- Financial costs associated with lost time and cover
- Erosion of confidence, trust, and team cohesion
In this context, any intervention that promotes recovery, resilience, and retention should be considered critical infrastructure, not optional welfare.
Sport as a Strategic Solution:
This is where TeamPolice steps in.
We act as the official fundraising body for Police Sport UK (PSUK), and enable collaboration between PSUK and commercial supporters. Our mission is clear: use sport and physical activity to improve the mental health, wellbeing and long-term resilience of the UK’s police workforce by raising much needed funds.
Sport is more than fitness, it’s a powerful social prescription. Research consistently shows that participation in team sports:
- Reduces anxiety and depression
- Improves sleep, mood, and stress tolerance
- Strengthens social bonds and identity
- Supports neuroplasticity and mental performance
- Builds emotional resilience and sense of belonging
Structured physical activity has been shown by the World Health Organization, Royal College of Psychiatrists, and NHS to be one of the most cost-effective public health tools available. In workforce terms, it offers an essential protective buffer for those exposed to trauma and pressure, like police officers.
Our own data and testimonials show that officers who return to sport often rediscover a renewed sense of connection — not just to fitness, but to their teams, their purpose, and their community.
Real Results, Real Lives:
Ask those who’ve benefited. At recent PSUK tournaments, from rugby to jiu-jitsu, cricket to football, officers have spoken of:
- Recovering from mental health breakdowns
- Finding camaraderie and pride after losing motivation
- Using training to better regulate sleep and manage trauma
- Discovering new communities after feeling isolated at work
These are not all elite athletes. They are frontline officers, detectives, community support officers, and staff members, all facing the very challenges shown in the FOI data.
Business Partners Making a Difference:
None of this would be possible without our commercial sponsors. These partnerships allow us to:
- Fund national and regional sport competitions
- Provide access to kit, events, venues, and travel
- Host cross-force events at a national level
- Spotlight police sport in the national conversation
We’re incredibly proud to partner with organisations. Their ongoing support is not just CSR, it is workforce investment at scale.
Sport Isn’t a Luxury, It’s a Long-Term Workforce Strategy:
With 17,752 officers off work due to stress-related illness, the time for action is now. Sport and physical activity provide an evidence-based, scalable way to support officer wellbeing, rebuild morale, and ultimately enhance operational effectiveness.
It’s not just about play – it’s about performance, purpose, and people.
Get Involved:
If your business shares our vision of improving wellbeing through sport, we invite you to sponsor our work. Help us build a healthier, stronger, more resilient police service.
For partnership opportunities and to learn more about TeamPolice, contact us at: events@teampolice.org
Together, we can turn the tide on stress in policing, one match, one mile, one moment at a time.
Sources:
- Police Oracle – Officers Signed Off for Mental Health Passes 17,000
- Mind Blue Light Programme, 2022 Report
- WHO: Physical Activity and Mental Health
- NHS: Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
- Police Federation of England & Wales – Annual Welfare Survey 2023
