A major campaign by Victorian Police aims to crackdown on the number of its officers taking 'sickies'.
The campaign, endorsed by Victoria's Police Commissioner Simon Overland, intends to resolve long-term sick leave cases and change the culture of members taking sick days which will apparently cost the force 130,000 days this financial year.
Mr Overland has reportedly suggested "there is a bit of bludging going on" which reflects the attitudes in the broader community - apparently some police have been taking unscheduled leave over and above that expected due to the effects of stress and shift work on their health.
Mr Overland says some tough decisions must be made and long-term cases will all be reviewed to determine who could eventually return and who should leave the force with a disability pension.
Reports say in the last financial year, Victorian police took 115,167 unplanned leave days - about 10.5 for the year for each officer - an 5.8% increase on the previous year, the most prevalent absentee days were Monday and Friday.
Commissioner Overland says while stressful duties and shift work tended to raise the risk of ill health, some police were taking unwarranted sick leave - police figures show 400 cases of long-term sick leave, with the longest a case of seven years.
Police Association secretary Senior Sergeant Greg Davies said lack of police numbers was causing police to report sick and he has disputed police long-term sick leave figures and saying the number was 127.
The review was ordered late last year by then chief commissioner Christine Nixon, and since then 188 cases have been resolved with the officers returning to their original positions, being transferred to more appropriate duties or retiring due to disability but 212 "complex cases" remain under review.