‘I want officers to love their jobs again’ says Conservative leader at PFEW Conference

22 October 2026

Kemi Badenoch acknowledged that the already difficult jobs of police officers ‘have become even harder in recent years’.

The Conservative leader was speaking on day two of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Annual Conference.

She began by saying she understood the extreme dangers and pressures officers face on a daily basis.

“I know that some of you have to make difficult decisions every single day, where sometimes, you only have seconds to decide what to do in dangerous situations most of us will never have to experience,” she said.

“There are incidents which may not have happened altogether if there had been more officers in the area. If we want a police force which keeps the public safe, and maintains law and order in our country, we must fix these injustices for you.”

 

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch

Picture credit: Anderson Photography

 

Badenoch declared she was ‘not scared to wade in’ and ‘not scared to back the police’, adding that ‘too often these days, we fail to recognise sacrifice and service’.

She detailed how the Conversative Party intended to show its backing for officers, discussing an aim to free them of time-consuming paperwork so more hours could be spent on the frontline.

She also outlined plans around technology and the use of AI and live facial recognition for more admin tasks to free up officer time.

Recruitment and retention

Turning her attention to recruitment, Badenoch said an aim to introduce 10,000 new officers to the profession, including 2,000 personnel in notorious crime hotspots.

She spoke about ‘recruiting the right people and preparing them for the realities of our goals’, but said that training up fresh officers was ‘only part of the answer’.

“We also need to make sure that once we have good officers, we keep them, instead of simply bringing in new ones to replace the good ones who have left,” she said.

“The Police Federation’s recent surveys on how officers are feeling in their jobs makes for grim reading.

Pay and Morale Survey

“More than half of you are reporting low morale, and nearly a quarter of you say you intend to resign either within two years or as soon as you can.

“Policing used to be a career people loved, but I know that many officers don’t feel differently nowadays by accident.

“This should be a job you love. We want you to feel that way, and we are going to make that happen again.”

The Conversative leader, who has held her role since 2024, then turned her attention to economic and financial circumstances surrounding policing.

Police pay

She stopped short of guaranteeing an officer pay increase.

“I am not going to stand here and promise something without a plan to pay for it,” she said.

“Until we fix our economy, it will be very difficult to afford real pay rises – but once we do that, we will become a richer country, and then we will be able to pay.

“In the meantime, police officers will benefit from the other policies we will introduce, such as abolishing stamp duties.”

Badenoch rounded off her speech by telling conference she wanted to see PFEW rebuild after a turbulent peeriod and provide the best possible service for its members.

Federation's important role

“I believe in rewarding people who work hard, take responsibility, and contribute to this country – and I know that you do too, which is why you’re doing this job,” she said.

“Unlike NHS staff, teachers and civil servants, you guys can’t go on strike. That makes the Police Federation’s role particularly important.

“You need a strong, credible organisation that represents your interests, speaks us for you, and makes sure your concerns are heard.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that the Police Federation is currently facing some significant challenges, and I know that work is being done to arrest these challenges.

Constructive relationship

“The Conversative Party are following that work closely, because it matters to us that you have a Federation you can trust and rely on – and it matters that the Government, in particular, listens to officers, and it needs to listen to officers through a body that is effective and accountable.

“That’s why I want a constructive relationship with the Federation, and all our officers, based on honesty and mutual respect, because we all want to make policing better.”

READ MORE: Conference opens with the message policing needs to change.