One in five police officers planning to quit
A survey says it's due to low morale and pay
Research suggests nearly one in five police officers plan to quit within the next two years, amid low morale and dissatisfaction over pay.
An annual survey by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) also found that 19% of officers polled never or almost never have enough money to pay for essentials.
The Federation, which represents more than 130,000 officers up to the rank of chief inspector, has published the results of its yearly Pay and Morale Survey today.
Of the 36,669 officers who responded, 18% said they planned to resign either as soon as possible or within the next two years.
Main factors morale and pay
The top reasons were morale (98%), how the police are treated by the Government (96%) and pay (95%).
More than four in five (83%) of those surveyed said they were "dissatisfied" or "very dissatisfied" over pay.
The Police Federation said officers have faced a real-terms pay cut of more than 20% since 2010, rising to 30% for officers on the lowest pay levels.
PFEW national chairman, Steve Hartshorn, said: "Police officers are reaching breaking point and are leaving the service in their droves as every element of their pay and conditions has been gradually eroded in the space of a decade.
"Record numbers are resigning over inadequate pay and conditions. We are losing some exceptional officers simply because they cannot afford to stay in the service, with an alarming number unable to afford monthly essentials.
"The latest figures indicate 8,117 police officers left the service in England and Wales in the year ending March 2022 - the highest number of leavers since comparable records began, and at least 1,800 of those officers who joined under the Government's Uplift Programme have already voluntarily resigned."
Police forces have been asked to recruit 20,000 officers over a three-and-a-half-year period up to March 2023, to replace those axed during austerity.
Officers have also faced having to cover for other emergency services during recent strikes, when they themselves do not have the right to take industrial action.
'Anger and disillusionment'
Mr Hartshorn added: "The results of our survey clearly illustrate the anger and disillusionment of police officers across England and Wales.
"Many have stopped expecting any recognition from the Government for their unique responsibilities and the restrictions imposed on their industrial rights which is, quite frankly, dangerous.
"Being able to protect the public effectively rests on a knife edge.
"Without sufficient investment in policing, we will see a further detrimental rise in resignations, and officers will not be able to keep up with the new technology innovations criminals use, will not be able to stretch resources to attend all crimes, and, ultimately, will not be able to keep our communities safe from the rise in violent crime.
"It is paramount the service is provided with long-term investment, instead of single-year settlements to futureproof the service. The Government must listen and not ignore the needs of the service because they do not have the right to strike."
A Home Office spokesman said: "Policing is a career like no other and we need officers to keep communities safe and cut crime. We are injecting record funds into policing and giving officers the support, training and powers they need to crack down on crime.
"The Government remains on track to deliver its pledge to recruit 20,000 police officers by March 2023. The overwhelming majority of new recruits recently surveyed report positive job satisfaction and want to remain officers for the rest of their working lives."
The cost of living crisis is affecting many:
Interest rates and inflation go up
Inflation rose by 8.8% in the 12 months to January 2023, down from 9.2% in December 2022. With interest rates also rising to 4%, those saving money will earn more interest on their finances, whilst those paying mortgages would pay more interest to the bank.
Energy bills
The price of energy went up incredibly as the cost of living crisis hit, with the gas price spike caused largely by the war in Ukraine. The price cap - which is set by an independent regulator to help offset costs onto customers - was set to rise to ÂŁ3,549 for an average home in October but a price freeze from the government restricted the typical bill to ÂŁ2,500. That's still an increase of 27% from the previous energy cap and as it's a cap on unit cost, the more energy you use the higher your bill will be.
Food prices
The cost of a weekly shop also has gone up as a result of the cost of living crisis. As a result of the war in Ukraine, a number of products including cooking oils and wheat have been disrupted. This means that several products are now considerably more expensive, driving bills up for customers.
Prices at the pumps
The average cost of petrol has also rose to unprecedented levels. Supply lines for petrol have been thrown into doubt as a result of the war in Ukraine, as Russia is a large export partner for gas, oil and fuel. In April 2022, the average price for a litre of petrol on the forecourt was 160.2p, whilst a litre of diesel would cost 170.5p. By late June 2022 the price had risen to an average of 190.9p for a litre of unleaded and 198.9p for a litre of diesel. In March 2023 the price wass on average of 147.03 in petrol and 167.04 in diesel.
Average cost of filling up a car with petrol hits ÂŁ100
On 9th June 2022, the average cost of filling up a car with petrol hit ÂŁ100 for the first time ever. Diesel had already hit that milestone. It comes as the cost of fuel hit a record high of one pound eighty a litre. The 2p rise was the biggest daily jump in 17 years. Prices have dropped by at least 20p per litre since the high point.