Kent Police Pay and Morale Report

10 April 2024

83% of Kent Police officers feel ‘worse off’ financially now than they were five years ago and 18% ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have enough money to cover all their essentials.

According to the 2023 Police Federation of England and Wales Pay and Morale Report – published today - 92% of respondents have seen living cost increases in the previous month and 77% of officers are dissatisfied with their pay.

Worryingly, 15% of Kent Police officers who responded to the survey said they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can’.

Whilst Police Officers received a 7% pay rise in 2023, they have still seen an incredible 16% real-terms pay cut over the past 12 years. 

Police chiefs have pointed out that the high cost of living in the UK is placing an even bigger strain on officers, as well as hampering recruitment. They have asked the Government for officers to receive a 6% pay rise in 2024. 

Officers are also struggling with low morale and lack of support, the survey found. 94% of officers said they do not feel respected by the Government, and 57% said they were experiencing low morale.

73% of respondents from Kent Police said that they would not recommend joining the police to others. 68% said they do not feel valued within the service.

Neil Mennie, Chair of Kent Police Federation, said: “The results of the survey are a stark reminder of the multiple struggles officers face on both a professional and personal level.

“There is a definite sense of undertaking the role in spite of the conditions rather than those numerous and public spirited reasons for undertaking policing as a career. When we hear from those currently at the business end of policing and 73% wouldn’t recommend joining to others that’s a significant concern.

“Any one of the areas surveyed is likely to lead to a ‘domino’ effect and impact others. If for example you have low morale and a high workload before heading home and worrying about your bills and finances the results are hardly a surprise.

“There is still an alarming use of annual leave for psychological health reasons which amounts to leave as a ‘temporary escape’ before probably returning to the same environment and issues that led to that decision in the first place.

“Next year its predicted that 40% of officers will have less than five years’ service which is a big number. It’s important that the motivation and enthusiasm of new joiners is maintained beyond the initial phases and not a curtain raiser before its drained away. Feeling undervalued and unsupported in the pressure cooker that is policing today is clearly unhelpful.

“I speak to many fantastic talented colleagues who undertake excellent work in the service they provide to the public who are probably are not aware of these struggles. This is a glimpse ‘behind the mask’ of those officers who maintain their dignity and professionalism when facing the public.

“Kent is undergoing and has undergone some structural changes that its hoped will improve some of the workload demand and moral however only time will tell. There are some elements that Chief officers can control and others less so. Given that Kent has to find £35 million pounds in savings over the next five years and partly due to a bizarre funding formula there isn’t much room for optimism.

“Without significant funding and investment it’s hard to see an officers lot being a happy one anytime soon.”

Officers are coming under attack from the public too, the report showed, with 16% having suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year.

Only 29% of officers who responded reported having access to double crewing at all times whilst on duty.

62% of respondents from Kent Police said that over the last 12 months, their workload has been ‘too high’ or ‘much too high’. 5% of officers said that they have ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ been able to take an 11-hour break between shifts in the last 12 months and 29% said they feel ‘always’ or ‘often’ feel pressured into working long hours.

Sadly, 82% of respondents from Kent Police indicated that they had experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months, and 46% said that they find their job ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressful.

The survey is based on 759 responses received from Kent Police officers.

Neil concluded: “Thank you to everybody who completed the survey and our Federation Reps across the county who assisted and encouraged.”