New report highlights need for investment in policing

2 April 2025

‘How much more evidence does the government need before it will properly invest in the police?’

That’s the question posed by Dyfed Powys Police Federation chair Delme Rees after a new report highlighted the impact that a decade of cuts has had on frontline policing.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Service (HMICFRS) found that demand has soared over the past decade while officer numbers have not kept pace.

The HMICFRS report also found that workloads are too high, the complexity of crime was increasing, as was the time it took forces to investigate them.

 

Branch chair Delme Rees

 

Many supervisors and investigators were inexperienced and lacked the necessary training, the report’s authors said.

Delme said: “I’m not surprised by the findings of this report. The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has been shouting for the past 10 years that austerity and funding cuts have decimated the service.

“Members have seen their wages slashed in real terms and some are struggling to pay bills and put food on the table, which is outrageous given what we ask police officers to do.

Overworked

“This new report is the latest in a number of studies that reach similar conclusions, that officers are overworked, underpaid, and undervalued.

‘How much more evidence does the government need before it will properly invest in the police?’

The HMICFRS report follows recent research by Metfriendly, which found 24 per cent of officers with one to five years of service are contemplating leaving policing and 18 per cent of officers in this group are considering taking on a second job.

The Metfriendly survey also found that 64 per cent of officers reported financial concerns; 17 per cent of officers are missing meals due to a lack of money; and 55 per cent of officers say financial stress is severely impacting their wellbeing.

And in the branch’s most recent Pay and Morale Survey, 55 per cent of respondents reported low morale, while 15 per cent said they intend to resign from the service in the next two years.

Almost three quarters (72 per cent) said they were dissatisfied with their overall remuneration, while 13 per cent reported not having enough money to cover all their essentials.

Improve pay

Delme said: “The Government must finally take heed of these reports and work with the Federation to improve pay and conditions for rank and file officers.

“A good place to start in improving morale, easing the retention crisis, and making the job more attractive for new recruits would be to restore police pay this summer.

“After a decade of cuts and underinvestment, there is a long way to go but the Government needs to act now to ensure public trust remains in policing.”

The HMICFRS report said: “Interviewees told us that officers and staff often couldn’t investigate crime as well as they wanted to because their workloads were too high, they were under pressure and they didn’t have enough time.”

The report states that while recorded crime rates have increased over the past decade, there has been an increase in the population;  a reduction in the total number of police officers and police staff; an increase in the proportion of officers who have fewer than five years’ service; and an increase in the complexity of crime investigations.

Ongoing cases

“As a result of all these factors, we believe that forces need more officers and staff in order to investigate volume crime more effectively,” the report said.

HMICFRS added: “Interviewees said that on some days, they don’t get any opportunity to progress ongoing cases as they are dealing with new cases.

“Some investigators only have two days in every ten when they can progress existing cases and investigations.

“One investigator told us: ‘Victims call for updates, and we can’t tell them anything. It’s embarrassing really.’”

Tiff Lynch, acting chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “If government have been honest about describing the NHS as a broken system full of heroes, they must do the same for policing.

“This report shows a service and a workforce stretched beyond its limits.

“The government cannot expect high-quality policing and safer streets when it refuses to fairly pay those whose blood, sweat and tears delivers it day in and day out.”

Read the HMICFRS report.

READ MORE: Police Unity Tour - registration now open.