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Portsmouth MP says police cuts have consequences as new report reveals harsh reality on mental health

By 30 May 2019September 8th, 2022No Comments

It has emerged, following research conducted by the University of Cambridge, that almost 1 in 5 police officers suffer from PTSD.

The largest and most comprehensive force-wide survey was orientated around the wellbeing of officers and screening for clinical symptoms associated with PTSD.

The results also showed that 90% of officers had been exposed to incidents of trauma and the study suggests that overall PTSD rates in law enforcement are almost five times higher than general UK population levels. 

Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South has for some time been liaising with local officers to hear about their experiences and has been out on patrol with them several times across the constituency. He has also discussed concerns over the wellbeing of personnel with senior police officers and representatives of the Police Federation.

Responding to the University Cambridge report, Mr Morgan said:

“I have seen first-hand whilst out on patrol in Portsmouth that police officers are willingly putting themselves in harm’s way to protect us day in, day out. They save lives, prevent crime and are there for us in our darkest hour.

The findings of this important research on PTSD demonstrates that the Government is not willing to reciprocate this dedication.

Unprecedented cuts to our police force, £90m in Hampshire alone between 2011/12 and 2018/19, means that officers are being required to deal with an everchanging criminal landscape with less people and less resources. This is simply not good enough”.

The results of the study come at a time when local taxpayers across Hampshire will be footing the bill for policing in the coming years.

A lack of central government funding for police forces has meant that residents will see an increase in their council tax precept to fill the gap. Another issue that the Portsmouth MP has been calling on the Government to act on.