PAY AND MORALE
colleagues who protect the public around the clock in an increasingly dangerous profession, are feeling devalued by the Government”. Steve added: “It is unsurprising thousands of police officers are looking to resign and would not recommend joining the service to others when their pay has been eroded over the years and fails to keep up with other public sector workers”. The survey also found rates of physical and verbal abuse from the public are high and officers are not getting the equipment and support they need. Only 27 per cent of respondents reported having access to double crewing ‘at all times’. Additionally, more than 1 in 10 (15 per cent) reported they had suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year and 34 per cent have suffered verbal insults at least once per week over the past 12 months. Steve told us: “Policing is an increasingly dangerous profession, with nearly 41,149 assaults recorded on police officers for the year ending June 2023. That’s an increase of 49.1 per cent from June 2018. He added: “Poor morale, poor pay, tough working conditions and sustained abuse from the public is having
a significant impact on the life satisfaction and mental health of police officers. These figures should be standing out to the Government, 85 per cent of our members feel that they are not fairly paid given the hazards they face within their job, up from 78 per cent in 2018, 92 per cent of respondents feel they are not fairly paid given the stresses and strains of their job, up from 88 per cent in 2018 and 91 per cent of respondents feel morale within the police service is low.” The detailed results of the survey help to highlight specific areas of concern that are then taken by the Federation back to both police chiefs and the Government. Other findings include:
• 95 per cent said how the police are treated by the Government had a
• 81 per cent said their pay had a negative impact on their morale.
negative impact on their morale.
• 73 per cent said they would not recommend joining the police to others.
• 91 per cent of respondents feel that morale within the police service is
• 71 per cent said they did not feel valued within the police.
currently ‘low’ or ‘very low’. • 86 per cent said they do not feel
• 64 per cent said their workload has been ‘too high’ or ‘much too high’ over the last
there are enough officers to meet the demands of their team or unit.
• 22 per cent of respondents told us that they had an intention to resign from
12 months.
• 82 per cent of respondents indicated they had experienced feelings of stress,
• 85 per cent of respondents feel they are not fairly paid given the hazards they
low mood, anxiety or other problems with their mental health and wellbeing.
• 92 per cent of respondents feel they are not fairly paid given the stresses and
• 85 per cent of respondents felt they were ‘worse off’ financially than they
• 18 per cent reported never having enough money to cover all their essentials.
were five years ago.
strains of their job, up from 88 per cent in 2018.
face within their job, up from 78 per cent in 2018.
the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can.’ The most frequently cited reasons being how the police are treated by the Government and the impact of the job on their mental health and wellbeing.
19 | POLICE | APRIL | 2024
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52
