Police Finance Report Shows Officers Are Leaving Pension

13 May 2026

The Chair of Kent Police Federation said it was “very worrying” that nearly half of officers were considering stopping pension contributions due to financial pressures.

Federation Chair Neil Mennie was speaking after the latest Police Family Finance Index Report was published by Police Friendly. It found that 46% of respondents had considered opting out of their pension in the past 12 months, with 7% going on to stop contributions altogether.

Police Friendly said the findings pointed to a growing trend driven by the cost-of-living crisis, with rising housing costs, inflation and stagnant real-term pay forcing many officers to make difficult short-term financial decisions – often at the expense of their future.

Officers aged under 35 were significantly more likely to both consider and act on pension opt-outs, highlighting a potential long-term generational impact on retirement outcomes.

Shockingly, the report, based on over 13,500 responses, found that 15% of police officers were missing meals due to lack of money. Nearly four in 10 said they were in significant debt when their housing costs were included.

Over two thirds (68%) reported financial concerns, and over half (56%) said their financial situation had worsened over the past year.

When asked what steps they would take to improve their personal financial situation over the next 12 months, 54% of officers planned to do more overtime to make ends meet, 16% are considering doing a second job, and 32% are thinking of changing their job and leaving the police.

Neil said: “This is a very worrying picture, with officers making short-term financial decisions that will lead to difficulties later on. Given the struggle to make ends meet, the short-term gain of not making pension contributions is an understandable temptation. This, however, is not the answer.”

Neil said that police officers in his force were under a “growing pile of pressure”, on the back of a 2.5% pay recommendation from the Home Office and a cut to the South East Allowance.

He said: “Given the high workloads, long hours and high cost of living, it’s no wonder officers are thinking of leaving the police. But it’s not all about pay – it’s also how officers are looked after in areas such as travel to work and proper rest.”