WEST Mercia police officers have almost twice as much sick leave as other forces in the country.

Officers in the force, which covers Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Shropshire, have an average of more than 14 days off a year, compared to a national average of eight days, a television current affairs programme has revealed.

The figure matches the Warwickshire and Essex forces.

A report in Trevor McDonald's Tonight programme last night, revealed sickness levels to be well above the private sector average of 7.8 days per year, prompting some forces to use private investigators to spy on their staff.

A West Mercia spokesman said today it was not using private investigators on its own staff, and sick leave was improving.

"Apart from a slight increase last year there's been a downward trend for the last six years," he said.

"The survey carried out by the programme was also comparing the police to other private sector workers which is slightly unfair.

"It should be remembered that police work is demanding and confrontational and they have to work shifts and are out in all weather, including the rain and the cold."

He added West Mercia was currently examining its sick leave record and looking at ways to improve absenteeism.

The documentary highlighted the problem of absenteeism in the police and the high number of police officers leaving on medical grounds, which entitles them to a medically enhanced index-linked pension.

One case shown was of a Merseyside officer who claimed to be suffering from nervous debility and a bad back but was running his own yoghurt business. while another was caught selling double glazing.