article: Figures from the UK government showed 4.7% of South Wales Police officers and 3.7% of Gwent Police officers were absent for at least 28 working days between March 2016 and March 2017. Bedfordshire and Greater Manchester are joint third highest as 3.3% of officers have a recognised medical condition. Figures showed City of London Police had no officers on long term sick. "South Wales Police is Wales' largest force and among the busiest in England and Wales, dealing with more than 1,000 incidents every day of the week," said Assistant Chief Constable Richard Lewis, whose force employs 2,893 officers. "We police some of the biggest events in the country from major sporting fixtures to large-scale international and diplomatic occasions. "While officers are proud and professional in the way in which they serve the communities of south Wales fewer officer numbers means they are under greater strain than ever before. "Additionally the reductions have meant we have focused on our front line resilience which means there are fewer non-operational posts for officers to return into if they are not fit for operational duty." Wales' two other forces had figures of 1.4% for North Wales Police while 1.7% of Dyfed-Powys Police officers were off on long-term sickness. The Home Office statistics also show the number of police officers in Wales signed off work due to stress has more than doubled over the past four years. A Freedom of Information request showed 86 officers across the four Welsh police forces were too ill to work in June due to mental health issues. In June 2013, it was just 37 - marking an increase of more than 130%. South Wales Police had the highest number - 60 - off work due to stress in June. North Wales (1,445 officers) and Dyfed-Powys Police (1,156) both had eight officers signed off, while Gwent, with 1,172 officers, had 10. The Police Federation described the figures as "the tip of the iceberg". Vice chairman Calum Macleod said: "This is because of the stigma attached, because they don't want to let their colleagues and the public down as well as concerns it might hamper their career prospects." He said a cut of 20,000 officers in England and Wales since 2009 increased the pressure on those on the front line. "You are having officers' rest days cancelled without being given appropriate notice - so they are spending less time with families," he added. In April, mental health charity Mind Cymru launched its Blue Light Programme, offering support and training to emergency workers dealing with stress but Mr Macleod believes this should be done by employers, not charities. South Wales Police ACC Lewis said the force gave officers "all the support" it could, adding: "We are continuing to work hard to ensure we create a workplace where it's okay to talk about mental health." Gwent Police said it had a confidential service for all employees, available "seven days a week, 365 days a year", which included counselling. North Wales Police welcomed its reduction in officers signed off, putting it down to "colleagues working
summary: Two Welsh police forces are top of the long-term sick leave table of the 43 forces in England and Wales.