The exceptionally harrowing nature of Rudakubana's crimes has meant several officers in the force have had to take sick leave.

"Like many women, I legally had to take sick leave. But I was grief stricken, not sick, harbouring a deep sense of loss."

It conducted a survey of care workers, which suggested one in three of them could not afford to take sick leave.

Some may choose to take sick pay or compassionate leave - but this is at the discretion of employers.

Ambulance technician Giles George said shift workers received up to 20% more on their pay which was lost for six weeks if they had to take sick leave.