Force tops the table for personal morale, but pay concerns continue

11 January 2023

Nottinghamshire officers have reported the highest personal morale of all the 43 forces across England and Wales.

Findings from the Police Federation’s 2022 pay and morale survey were published today and revealed fewer than half (44 per cent) of respondents from the Force said their morale was low or very low compared to a national figure of 56 per cent.

Some 72 per cent of Nottinghamshire officers felt morale across the Force was low or very low compared to a national average of 87 per cent. The Force with the highest number of officers with low or very low personal morale was Dorset Police with a figure approaching 70 per cent.

Nottinghamshire Police Federation chair Simon Riley said he was disappointed that only 119 members took part in the survey which represents a response rate of around five per cent.

But he added: “That said, having gone through the Notts report it is broadly similar in responses to the national report and I am as happy as I can be that it is fairly representative of the mood of the membership.”

Pay remains the biggest cause of concern among police officers across England and Wales and Nottinghamshire is no different.

The survey revealed that 77 per cent of respondents from the Force said they were either dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with their overall remuneration including basic pay and allowances

Almost all respondents (97 per cent) reported that their cost of living had increased in the last month, with an increase in the price of their food shop being the most cited reason, and nearly nine out of ten (86 per cent) felt that they were worse off financially than they were five years ago. 

The survey found 15 per cent of respondents never or almost never had enough money to cover all their essentials.

It also revealed: 

• 89 per cent of respondents from Nottinghamshire Police said that they did not feel respected by the Government
• 52 per cent said that they would not recommend joining the police to others
• 66 per cent said that they did not feel valued within the police service
• 44 per cent found their job very or extremely stressful
• 84 per cent have experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months.

Almost one in five (19 per cent) said they  planned to quit the Force ‘within the next two years or as soon as they could’ with the most frequently cited reasons being morale, the impact of the job on their mental health and wellbeing and the impact of the job on their family and personal life.

Simon said: “The survey has once again highlighted the levels of dissatisfaction at police pay and the way our members feel they are treated by the Government.

“Other public sector workers have started taking industrial action to make clear their position on pay and conditions but police officers are not allowed to do that so it is essential that the findings from this latest survey are taken seriously and our members’ concerns are addressed.

“Police officers want to be fairly rewarded for the difficult, stressful jobs they do and they also want to feel respected for the sacrifices they make and risks they take in the line of duty and no one should feel that is too much to ask for.

“None of us became police officers to get rich but the idea that some of our members are struggling to make ends meet is unacceptable so police pay and conditions must be dealt with as a matter of urgency.”

The survey findings will be presented to chief constables, ministers and other stakeholders as part of the Federation’s campaign for better pay and conditions and further improvements to the police service.

Read the full report.