METFRIENDLY SURVEY FINDINGS
families will be severely impacted in a short time. Loan repayments for car or home improvements that were previously affordable are no longer manageable for many respondents. Many are raiding their savings to pay bills and avoid going into debt. Police officers and staff reported arriving at work hungry, stressed, and concerned about their family’s future financial situation.
to opt out (12 per cent). To improve their financial situation over the next 12 months, 51 per cent of respondents plan to do more overtime, rising to 53 per cent for police officers. Additionally, 18 per cent of officers are considering a second job, and 31 per cent are thinking of changing their job and leaving policing.
• Mental Health Impact: Financial stress is taking a toll on mental health,
financial stress can drive experienced officers to leave and deter potential recruits.
leading to higher burnout rates and a less appealing work environment.
• Housing Costs: Increased
MISSED MEALS AND FINANCIAL OBLIGATIONS The proportion of respondents missing meals due to lack of money was 16 per cent, rising to 17 per cent for police officers and 22 per cent for those under 35. Just over 11 per cent of all respondents reported missing financial obligations in the past year. The significant impact of current financial circumstances on mental health is a major issue, with 55 per cent of police officers recording a high level of impact.
“The financial pressures and mental health impacts highlighted in the survey have significant implications for police recruitment and retention.”
PENSION CONCERNS AND FUTURE PLANS The survey revealed that 42 per cent of police officers considered stopping their pension contributions due to financial pressures in the past 12 months, with 6 per cent actually stopping. Officers under 35 were much more likely to consider opting out of the pension (60 per cent) and twice as likely as those aged 35-55
INTENTION TO LEAVE THE POLICE SERVICE When asked if they plan to leave the police service in the next five years, a third (33 per cent) of all respondents, including 32 per cent of police officers, responded “No”. The remainder were split between those planning to retire (24 per cent), those intending to leave for another job (20 per cent), and those who were unsure.
IMPLICATIONS ON
RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION The financial pressures and mental health impacts highlighted in the survey have significant implications for police recruitment and retention:
• Financial Concerns: High levels of
• Pension Concerns: Concerns about
• Intention to Leave: A significant number of officers considering leaving
pension viability can make the profession less attractive.
• Recruitment Challenges: The negative economic outlook and financial
poses a serious risk of a boots-on-the- ground crisis.
struggles of serving officers can make it harder to attract new recruits.
Addressing these issues is crucial for the wellbeing and retention of police officers and staff, ensuring the sustainability of the police service in the UK.
Access the full report by clicking on this link:
www.polfed.org/media/19762/ metfriendly-police-family-finance- index-spring-2025-final.pdf
43 | POLICE | APRIL | 2025
housing costs can act as a pivotal reason for seeking better-paying jobs outside the police service.
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