92% of Wiltshire Police officers do not feel respected by Government
MPs are being urged to help out
The 2021 Pay and Morale Survey has found that 92% of police officers in Wiltshire say they don't currently feel respected by the Government.
The new figures from the Police Federation of England and Wales comes after 12 years of pay caps and pay freezes for the police.
68% respondents from our county felt they were worse off financially than they were five years ago, while 44% are worried about their finances.
73% say they felt morale is low at Wiltshire Police.
Last year police officers across England and Wales were given a 0% pay rise.
The Federation is urging MPs to support its campaign for a real-terms pay increase and a fair and independent mechanism to decide on police officer pay increases.
Phil Matthews, Wiltshire Police Federation Chair, said:
“For 12 years now, Police officers have been at the brunt of the Government’s pay caps and freezes, the Police Federation of England & Wales’s Pay and Morale Survey has revealed a growing crisis within policing and rising anger with the Government.
“Police officers have reached breaking point, not only nationally but here in Wiltshire too. I cannot fathom how our Government expect officers to do the challenging job they do whilst continually cutting and freezing their pay. Officers are scrimping and saving so they can make ends meet.
“In any part of the country, policing is a unique and challenging role. To do this role in the one of the smallest forces in the country with the fourth lowest funding makes it even more challenging.
“I challenge every one of our MP’s here in Wiltshire to read and digest the shocking results of this survey and ask themselves if they have done enough to support policing. Consider the impact on police officers wellbeing and mental health while struggling through these difficult times.
“The Government will show themselves on television praising policing then walk away from the camera and freeze the pay of those officers. Despicable. With Morale being at an all time low. 84% of officers in Wiltshire say pay has a negative impact on morale."