Pay And Morale Survey 2022 Highlights Severity Of Policing Crisis

11 January 2023

North Wales Police officers respond to Police Federation’s latest Pay and Morale Survey

The Police Federation of England and Wales’s (PFEW’s) Pay and Morale Survey for 2022 has revealed the severity of the crisis faced by rank-and-file officers and highlighted a sense of deepening frustration for the Government for continuously failing to assist with reasonable pay and conditions.

The survey reflects the Government’s failure to invest in policing in the long-term leading officers to breaking point. Underfunded forces and overworked and underpaid police officers are leading the profession to a level of crisis not seen before.

In North Wales at least 98% per cent of police officers reported facing a substantial increased cost of living between August and September 2022 with the price of fuel being the most common reason.

Furthermore, 20% of police officers reported ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ having enough money to cover all their essentials.

The compelling findings have also illustrated a growing crisis in the wellbeing and mental health of police officers, with 86% indicating they had experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months. 94% stated they are not paid fairly for the stresses and strains of their job.

The results clearly illustrate the anger and disillusionment of our brave colleagues and can no longer be ignored by the policymakers.

Of the officers who responded, 97% said their treatment by the Government harmed their morale, with 88% saying the same for pay, while 95% stated they did not feel respected by the Government.

The long-term attraction and viability of the traditional 30-year career is jeopardised, as 13% of respondents said they intended to resign either within the next two years or as soon as possible; 78% of those who wanted to quit blamed poor morale, 69% attributed this decision to the treatment of police by the Government and 76% cited pay as the reason.

The vast majority, 82%, disclosed they are ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their overall remuneration (including basic pay and allowances).

Additionally, 68% of respondents said they would not recommend joining the police to others.

46% police officers reported facing verbal abuse in the past 12 months and 21% of them said they had suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention because of work-related violence in the last year.

In fact, 90% stated they are not paid fairly considering the hazards faced within their job.

Mark Jones, General Secretary of North Wales Police Federation said: “The Pay and Morale survey is a real insight to how police officers are feeling on a range of issues.

“The Government must take notice of those who cannot strike, not ignore the deepening crisis that is unfolding across policing in Wales and England. Without taking action and supporting police officers, our most valuable asset in the fight against crime, ultimately the public will suffer. Underpaid and overworked officers cannot offer the service the public deserve. It is unprecedented so many of our members want to resign before they have completed their full service, and for the future of policing, this crisis needs to be urgently addressed through better pay and a new focus on the wellbeing of colleagues.

“Police officers are realistic professionals who fully understand the public purse is not a bottomless pit. But the sheer unfairness of once again being snubbed for a meaningful pay rise, added to rising inflation, will not be forgotten by our members.

“There is quite evidently a growing crisis in the wellbeing and mental health of those who head towards danger and a defined link between these issues and the diminishing pay packets.

“The entire service is underfunded, and police officers have been totally undervalued by this Government, and therefore the relationship between those responsible for the public purse and those who serve the public has been damaged almost beyond repair. The Government has lost the trust of colleagues, and its wilfully negligent attitude towards pay and funding has been devastating to morale and could impact on the service’s capability for decades to come.”

Read the full report