NEWS
THOUSANDS OF OFFICERS FORCED INTO
SECOND JOBS Police Federation of England and Wales’ new
research exposes how officers are struggling in many ways than one as thousands of police officers are now working second jobs just to make ends meet
With the Government announcing 4.2 per cent police pay award for this year (.1 per cent above current inflation), a new investigation by the Police Federation of England and Wales reveals a dire situation: thousands of police officers now juggle second jobs simply to keep afloat—a stark indication of how far their pay has plummeted in real-terms.
SECONDARY EMPLOYMENT ON THE RISE Using data obtained through the Freedom of Information Act, the Federation found that in 2024, more than 4,000 officers received approval to take up secondary employment—an alarming increase from just over 2,000 in 2019. This doubling of officers turning to outside work underscores what the Federation brands a “deepening pay crisis”:
• After six years’ service, officers can earn up to £10,000 less than teachers.
or nurses with similar experience. “A DAMNING INDICTMENT”:
“I’m particularly annoyed
that some forces told us it would take more than 18 hours to find this data. This information should be at Chief Constables’ fingertips.”
VOICES FROM THE FRONT LINE Brian Booth, Deputy National Chair of the Police Federation, commented: “Police officers are overworked, underpaid and under threat. They should not have to finish a shift protecting the public and then work a second job just to pay their bills. The impact on their family life or rest
• Real-terms pay down by 21% since 2010. • Starting salary for a constable: £29,000.
04 | POLICE | AUGUST | 2025
and recovery time is scary to think about – but this is a damning indictment of how far police pay has been allowed to fall by
successive governments. We need pay restoration now, and we need Chief Constables to get off the fence on pay and support their officers.”
HARDEST-HIT AREAS AND SOARING APPROVALS Forces experiencing the steepest increases in second-job approvals tend to serve some of the UK’s priciest regions,
including Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, and Surrey. The figures between 2019 and 2024 are particularly eye-opening: The Federation warns the real tally may be much higher, as nine forces—including the Metropolitan Police, the largest in the UK—refused to release their figures.
CRYSTAL-CLEAR CALLS FOR TRANSPARENCY AND ACTION Brian voiced his frustration at some
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