EXCLUSIVE: Number of Norfolk's Police Officers leaving reached 5 year high in 2022
Last year's total is more than double that of 2017
Last updated 3rd Feb 2023
We can exclusively reveal that the number of Police Officers leaving the Norfolk service reached a five year high in 2022.
The data obtained from our Constabulary shows the figure has also more than doubled since 2017.
The annual total increased by double-digits between 2020 and 2022.
"That's a symptom of where we're at"
Andy Symonds is chair of Norfolk's Police Federation.
He says the service is losing a lot of wisdom, thanks to this:
"We cannot get to the position where we have a very inexperienced workforce and a very young workforce.
"It's a good thing in one way, but it also takes it's toll on those more experienced officers where they are trying to do their day job, while also trying to mentor younger officers.
"We have seen Australia and New Zealand recently come over and try and poach some of our officers.
"They were successful. They were inundated with applications from officers. That's a symptoms of where we are at with policing, with pay and conditions."
"They miss out on a lot of family events"
"The government need to put money behind making it a more attractive job. That's better pay but also conditions in which officers are working under.
"They miss out on a lot of family events because are required, and often ordered to work late.
"That's becoming more and more regular, officers are seeing their shifts change on a regular basis to deal with events."
How many of Norfolk's officers have left their jobs each year?
2017- 28
2018- 19
2019- 20
2020- 20
2021- 38
2022- 55
(Source: Norfolk Constabulary)
What has the Government said about all of this?
The Home Office say they're confident they will reach their target of recruiting 20 thousand new Police officers across the UK by next month.