Nearly two thirds of Dorset Police officers worried about money
Specialists are raising concerns about police retention
63.4% of officers at Dorset Police are concerned about their household’s finances.
The figure is part of the latest Police Family Finances Index which surveyed over 10,000 police officers across the UK.
Especially young police officers are struggling with financial worries as 24% of those in the country who have been serving for one to five years considering leaving their jobs.
Andy Rhodes, OBE QPM service director of the National Police Wellbeing Service, said: “We knew it was an issue, but this gives us some hard evidence. Financial stress is really difficult for organisations like ours to actually get under the skin of.
“It’s highly stigmatised. Views from people about financial stress, we’re not hearing, quite frankly, on a day-to-day basis which is a problem”.
In Dorset, one quarter (24%) of police officers are currently considering leaving their jobs by 2030 and almost half (47%) are contemplating putting a stop to paying towards their pensions.
More than one in ten (17%) have said they are planning to take on a second job.
Across the UK, job satisfaction among police officers drops from 70% to just under one third (32%) after five years in service.
“You can lose your optimism because you’re dealing with tough, difficult things that don’t change. So, you sort of lose your meaning.
“We can remind people of that – if we recognise what they do, value what they do, listen to them – that they are making a difference every day of the week. It doesn’t need to be the case that we see that drop off”, added Mr. Rhodes.
Family support also declines, from three in five officers reporting being satisfied in their first year of service, compared to also just around one third (34%) still saying the same after five years.
The strain on police officers’ finances is showing as more than half of officers across the country (55%) have said their mental well-being has been severely impacted.
UK police family finance specialists, MetFriendly, who issued the report have raised concerns about police forces’ futures should young officer morale continue to fall.
Mr. Rhodes stressed that it is important for people to “feel that they are going to be supported” and recommends talking about concerns early on.
“Talk openly and early about any problems you might be having around the finances. There are lots of organisations out there who can help you. You’re not going to be judged, you’re not going to be blamed for anything.
“And the other thing is to weave the awareness of the support that’s out there into everyday conversations in the organisation”.
Almost two in three officers (62%) have also stressed that there is a need for their employers to offer financial education which could help ease the situation for many and make sure police forces retain their stability in the long run.
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