Miss Wendy Reeves v The Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Constabulary — 2025

This was a reserved preliminary hearing judgment on whether the claimant was disabled within the meaning of section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 during the relevant period. The claimant relied on stress, anxiety and fibromyalgia in connection with disability discrimination complaints about a disciplinary procedure and dismissal appeal process.

The tribunal found that the claimant had proved disability by reason of fibromyalgia between 29 April 2023 and 29 September 2023. It accepted that fibromyalgia symptoms flared up in mid-2023, caused a substantial adverse effect on normal day-to-day activities, and that the substantial adverse effects were recurring and likely to recur.

The tribunal found that the claimant had not proved disability by reason of anxiety/stress. It found that the substantial effects of stress/anxiety arose in mid-2023, had not lasted for 12 months, were not likely to last for 12 months, and had not been established as recurring or likely to recur. The disability discrimination claims could proceed based on fibromyalgia.