8/10 Lancashire Police officers want to leave profession
The Police Federation is making urgent calls for change
Last updated 12th Jan 2023
There are calls for better support and relief for police officers in Lancashire - over fears more officers than ever before are actively looking to leave the profession.
It comes after a shocking new study found:
- 87% feel worse off now than they were five years ago
- 99% have felt the cost of living increases
- 16% say they 'never' or 'almost never' have enough money to pay for essentials
- 81% said they were 'dissatisfied' or 'very dissatisfied' with their pay
This is according to the latest Police Federation of England and Wales Pay and Morale Survey, which saw 775 responses from Lancashire Constabulary.
Last year police officers across England and Wales were given an average of a 5% pay rise – but this was way below inflation, which is booming now at more than 10%. Household bills are rising sharply and over the past 12 years police officer pay has fallen in real terms by 25%.
It’s left a whopping 94% of Lancashire officers saying they do not feel respected by the Government.
Seven in ten said they would not recommend joining the police to others and 11% of respondents told researchers they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as they can’.
Morale and wellbeing has also taken a hit at the force. 68% said that over the last 12 months, their workload has been ‘too high’ or ‘much too high’ and 51% said that they find their job ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressful.
Eight in ten (81%) said they had experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months.
14% reported that they had suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related accidents in the last year.
Rachel Hanley, Chair of Lancashire Police Federation, said:
“Policing urgently needs a fair pay mechanism to restore faith in the Police pay process, we are urging the Government to work with the Federation to ensure Police officers receive a meaningful pay rise and support the profession of policing.
“We will be writing to our local MP’S to urge them to support our campaign for fair pay for police.”