STRESSED police staff took more than 12,000 days off work in 2014 - more than double the figure in 2010.

West Mercia Police has faced a huge increase in the loss of manpower due to stress, anxiety, depression and other psychiatric illnesses over the past five years.

Statistics released under a Freedom of Information request reveal 229 staff were absent for 12,198 days last year compared to 134 employees taking 4,789 days off in 2010.

One employee was absent for 454 days over the period.

Police bosses have recognised the trend but have insisted a number of measures are in place to “support the welfare” of their staff who work in “difficult and challenging circumstances”.

The organisation which represents frontline police officers in the area however has labelled the rise in stress-related absences as “worrying”.

Russ Yeomans, chairman-elect of the West Mercia Police Federation, said: “This is possibly a reflection of policing in modern times.

“Policing is a stressful profession and frequently officers are the first to attend distressing incidents such as road traffic collisions or sudden deaths.

“But it is difficult to pinpoint precise reasons for the rise in stress-related absences unless further research is carried out.

“We do know however that there has been quite a large increase which is a worrying trend.

“If the trend continues it is going to have an impact upon the service we can give to the public.

“The force is aware of this and will do everything it can to assist officers and staff to get better and get back to work as quickly as possible.”

He added that extensive austerity cuts might be one of a number of factors responsible for the trend.

The data also reveals that the total number of absences due to all types of sickness and ill health at West Mercia Police has risen by 60 per cent over the past five years.

In 2010 almost 25,000 days were lost but by 2014 this had increased to almost 40,000.

A spokesman for the force said: “West Mercia Police values its workforce and takes the well-being of its officers and staff very seriously.

“We recognise that these statistics show a rise in sickness absence, particularly for anxiety, stress and depression, but this trend is also reflected in other forces across the country.

“A number of measures are already in place in West Mercia to support the welfare of those who provide a vital service, protecting the public from harm, in what can be difficult and challenging circumstances.

“These include an attendance management group which monitors sickness absence across the force and works with line managers to address issues and identify opportunities for support.

"A new action plan has been implemented in the past year and additional training has recently become available for line managers to help them support their staff.

“This is part of a range of measures being implemented across Warwickshire Police and West Mercia Police.”