A cutting-edge study of new recruits by researchers at the Police Federation of England and Wales has been presented to delegates at an international conference for people management and employment policy specialists.

Leading PFEW research practitioner Dr Fran Boag-Munroe played a key role at the two-day Applied Research Conference (ARC), an annual event in Dublin where influential guest speakers discussed the practical application of insights to organisational life and labour markets.

Dr Boag-Munroe’s presentation at Dublin City University (DCU) Business School focused on the government campaign to recruit 20,000 police officers by March 2023.

It included revealing data from PFEW’s Research and Policy Support division’s ‘Through Career’ ongoing research programme, which surveys new recruits at the beginning and the end of their probationary period. Dr Boag-Munroe’s research revealed that:

• In three years, it is possible around 37% of police officers will have been in post for less than three years
• ‘Early career’ officers are a particularly high resignation risk - 39% of voluntary resignations are police officers with less than two years of service
• A duel focus on recruitment AND retention was needed if Operation Uplift is to be successful

Dr Boag-Munroe said: “It was a tremendous honour to be able to showcase the work we do within the Research and Policy Support division in front of a distinguished audience.

“Our research programme surveyed new recruits when they initially joined the service then again at the end of their probationary period.

“We discovered from the data that statistically significant differences were observed after two years as a police officer in career priorities, work values and the perception of policing as a ‘career for life.’

“There is currently a drive to recruit 20,000 new police officers in England and Wales and understanding what police officers want from their careers is critical to achieving this objective.

“The work of the research department feeds directly into this recruitment of new officers and, importantly, can help to motivate and retain them once in post.”

The Federation’s respected Research and Policy division plays a vital part in providing strategically important evidence to help achieve the best pay and conditions for members.