11 January 2023

'Dorset Officers Should Be Valued, Not Taken For Granted'

A huge 98% of Dorset Police officers do not feel respected by the Government, new research has shown.

Officers are struggling to pay the bills and a shocking 73% of them do not feel valued within the service, according to the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) 2022 Pay and Morale Survey.

Four fifths said they would not recommend joining the police to others and a further four fifths are unhappy about their pay, the research found.

81% of Dorset Police officers are ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their overall remuneration (including basic pay and allowances) and 84% of respondents felt that they were ‘worse off’ financially than they were five years ago. 22% reporting they ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have enough money to cover all their essentials.

Last year police officers across England and Wales were given an average of a 5% pay rise – but this was way below inflation 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%.

97% of respondents from Dorset Police reported that their cost of living had increased in the last month.

Officers are reporting feelings of low mood at the force. Half said their job was ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressful and 79% indicated that they had experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months.

Worryingly, a fifth of officers said they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can’ with 68% of respondents reporting a workload that has been too high over the past year.

12% of respondents from Dorset Police reported that they had suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year.

James Dimmack, Chair of Dorset Police Federation, said: “The results from the pay and morale survey are extremely disappointing and sadly not at all surprising. As we see half the Country seemingly seeking 20% pay increases as ever we are not only afforded miserly pay remuneration but also asked to cover for the unrest created by the dissatisfaction of others.

“Morale is a hugely worrying statistic. It is not lost on me that Dorset is a high performing Police service but it has to be asked at what cost? Our people do amazing things for pre-longed periods with seemingly ever decreasing resource! It is unrealistic to hope this is sustainable. We will feel the benefit of uplift but not for some considerable time.

“Dorset Police and policing as a whole will continue to “make it work” what is required is significant, meaningful and appropriate investment in the good people who ensure whatever the situation we in Dorset are safe! I don’t think that is too much to ask in fact I believe that is fundamental.

“The Office of Constable is a privilege and an honour. We undertake a challenging, difficult but ultimately fabulous job. There does however have to be a balance. Without that we will lose good people! This is terrifying statistic highlighted within the survey!

“I am proud to be a member of and support all members of Dorset Police but pride only goes so far. We need to be appropriately valued not taken for granted.”