NEARLY 50 police officers took sick leave due to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) last year, a Freedom of Information (FOI) request has shown.

In 2024, 49 officers and 16 police staff took sick leave due to PTSD, the FOI shows.

The data, collated by Devon and Cornwall Police, accounts for the period of January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024.

A total sum of 2164 days were missed by officers as a result of time taken in relation to PTSD, and 245 days by police staff.

More than 1,000 officers and staff took sick leave due to mental health more generally, the FOI also shows.

The real number could be higher as the data does not include any absences that started before January 1, 2024, but ended in 2024.