Improving police pay is the only way to retain officers

10 June 2025

Police officer numbers will drop dramatically if the Government fail to adequately address pay, the chair of Dyfed Powys Police Federation fears.

Delme Rees has warned that Wednesday’s spending review will play a critical role in determining the future of policing, as he worries that more and more officers will leave the job before reaching retirement.

His comments follow a letter written by the acting chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), Tiff Lynch, and the president of the Police Superintendents’ Association Nick Smart.

The pair have joined up to outline the current police crisis ahead of this week’s spending review, which will see Chancellor Rachel Reeves reveal the Government’s priorities for the next three years, setting out exactly how funding will be divided between different departments.

“Wednesday’s announcement is absolutely crucial to the future of policing,” says Delme.

“Policing needs to be properly funded - and that’s not empty promises pledging more money to boost operations, but adequate funding that will be directly felt by our members, for the better.

“Ultimately, it comes down to police pay. The Government need to boost the pay of police officers, that really is the bottom line. It is that simple.”

Delme admits he is worried that more experienced police officers with five to ten years’ maximum left of service are ‘only staying in the job for the pension’. 

He anticipates that officers new in service or with more years left in the job, are less likely to stay in policing, due to poor pay and a lack of appeal.

Pressures

“I seriously worry that we’re going to struggle to retain valuable officers if police pay doesn’t improve,” continued Delme.

“Some of our more experienced members, who are close to being able to access their pension - regardless of their pay - have that as an incentive to complete their service. However, I worry that our officers who are early into their career, don’t have the appetite to continue.

“And I don’t blame them. The job is hugely demanding, pressures are mounting, the risks are increasing - yet police pay remains poor.”

According to the Federation’s most recent Pay and Morale Survey,  more than half of Dyfed Powys officers (57 per cent) said they were ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their overall remuneration (including basic pay and allowances).

84 per cent of respondents reported that their cost of living had increased in the last month, with 16 per cent feeling like they ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have enough money to cover the essentials.

Respected

“As well as these hard-hitting results, the survey also found that 70 per cent of our members would not recommend the job to others and 91 per cent do not feel respected by the Government,” continued Delme.

“This week, the Government have a chance to prove that they do care about police officers; that they do respect us and they will pay police a salary that reflects the job they do.”

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares for her spending review, Tiff and Nick have called for ‘sustained investment in structures, people, and new technology’, saying policing needs:

·       A fair, independent pay review system not bound by Treasury limits, nor instructed in what is allowed to consider.

·       Immediate action to raise starting salaries, so policing is a viable, long-term career, not a financial sacrifice.

·       A long-term funding settlement that reflects genuine investment and allows chief constables to plan.

·       Real investment in officer wellbeing, not just words.

·       And a commitment to a defining purpose so that the police police, rather than doing the work of other public bodies.

Read the full statement here.

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