Leicestershire Police Pay and Morale Report

10 April 2024

Leicestershire Police Pay and Morale Report

82% of Leicestershire Police officers feel ‘worse off’ financially now than they were five years ago and 15% ‘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 - 91% of respondents have seen living cost increases in the previous month and 72% of officers are dissatisfied with their pay.

Worryingly, 15% of Leicestershire 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. 92% of officers said they do not feel respected by the Government, and 51% said they were experiencing low morale.

64% of respondents from Leicestershire Police said that they would not recommend joining the police to others. 67% said they do not feel valued within the service.

Andy Spence, Acting Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “The survey results show us clearly that officers feel dissatisfied with the level of pay and allowances. Over 80% of officers are worse off than they were 5 years ago. The workloads of officers has gone up and over 70% said that their workloads were too high.

“Over 80% of officers have suffered with stress, low mood and anxiety. Over 90% do not feel respected by the Government; over two thirds would not recommend others to join the police. 

“The Government need to sit up, look at these figures and realise that the officers they rely on to run towards danger are the same ones who are having days off cancelled, feeling worn out and devalued. Every time a politician says that there will be extra officers at work what they mean is that officers have had days off cancelled, they have had extra work given to them from a Government who does not recognise the important role they have. 

“We are asking the Government to make a fairer system for pay, to understand the risks and limitations that officers face and give a meaningful pay increase.”

Officers are coming under attack from the public too, the report showed, with 17% having suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year.

Only 17% of officers who responded reported having access to double crewing at all times whilst on duty.

72% of respondents from Leicestershire Police said that over the last 12 months, their workload has been ‘too high’ or ‘much too high’. 57% 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 37% said they feel ‘always’ or ‘often’ feel pressured into working long hours.

Sadly, 82% of respondents from Leicestershire 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 44% said that they find their job ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressful.

The survey is based on 445 responses received from Leicestershire Police officers.