Stressed-out police officers are having lunchtime meditation sessions to help them cope.

So far, 250 police officers and back-office staff in Salford, Greater Manchester, have taken part in the 'mindfulness' sessions held at Pendleton police station, whose officers have been struggling to cope with a series of gang-related shootings in the last year.

'Mindfulness' is a cornerstone of Buddhist practice which encourages people to focus on the present rather than the past or future.

Some officers are sceptical but others say the sessions really help.

So far, 250 police officers and back-office staff in Salford, Greater Manchester, have taken part in the 'mindfulness' sessions held at Pendleton police station, whose officers have been struggling to cope with a series of gang-related shootings in the last year. File pictures

Tibetan chimes are sounded as the officers go through meditations, concentrating on breathing and deep relaxation.

Some of the sessions, which are run by 13 volunteer police officers, are so successful that officers have been known to fall asleep.

It is believed Greater Manchester Police is the first force in the country to try meditation for officers and it could extend the scheme to other divisions across the county.

Police bosses hope the sessions will help to reduce rising sickness absence.

The latest figures from 2014/15 revealed 30,766 working days were lost because of sickness in GMP, with an average of 460 staff off at any one time.

When he retired last year, the then chief constable Sir Peter Fahy (above) admitted he had sought counselling as he struggled to cope in the top job and that he had also become a 'mindfulness' enthusiast

Research conducted on behalf of GMP estimates that sickness absence costs the force about £17million every year, based on the average salary of a police constable.

Psychological illness - stress, anxiety and depression - now accounts for nearly a third of all sickness absence.

Research conducted jointly by GMP and Manchester Metropolitan University - funded by the College of Policing - reported that 'sickness absence is placing a huge strain on the organisation and there is now an acknowledgement that the wellbeing of staff needs to be prioritised'.

When he retired last year, the then chief constable Sir Peter Fahy admitted he had sought counselling as he struggled to cope in the top job and that he had also become a 'mindfulness' enthusiast.

He encouraged efforts to improve the mental health of his officers, including free Indian head massages at the force's Sedgeley park training school to help officers stay calm.

The latest initiative has sparked cynicism among some officers but one experienced bobby said: 'The job's getting harder, there are less people and there's more accountability.

'People used to dismiss this kind of stuff and blame it on a bad back. To be fair to Sir Peter, he broke all that. If it helps people, it's got to be worth it.'

Chief supt Zoe Sheard said: 'My view is that mental health is as important to a police officer as physical health.

'We want them to go out and deal with conflict, but those same people will also have to deal with victims too - with compassion and often in the same incident.

'Mindfulness is about keeping them fit for each role. There's nothing mystical in this - it's just practical.'