NORTH Wales is home to one of the most compassionate police forces in the country - when it comes to issues involving the menopause.

The Police Federation of England and Wales carried out a survey into how much the condition affects the working lives of police officers and staff and 52 per cent of respondents from North Wales Police revealing they had disclosed to their line manager they were experiencing symptoms of the menopause.

Nationally, the figure was 47 per cent.

In the region 12 per cent of respondents said they had taken sickness absence and 64 percent had attended work despite feeling they really should have taken time off.

In North Wales 80 per cent of managers who responded felt they had a good level of awareness of the menopause, well above the national figure of 65 per cent.

Of those, 43 per cent felt very confident in their ability to support someone they line-managed who was going through the menopause, the national figure being only 34 per cent.

More than 6,300 responses were received nationally, of which 59 per cent were police officers and 40 per cent staff, with one per cent having other roles in the police service.

A Federation spokesman said in England and Wales around a third of female officers are aged 45 or over so the menopause presented an important occupational health issue that has the potential to affect thousands of employees, so should not be seen as a “niche” problem.

Police are more understanding about the problems caused by the menopause than their counterparts in other parts of the country.