Officers leaving police service in record numbers

27 July 2023

Record numbers of police officers are quitting the service across England and Wales, according to new Home Office data.

The figures reveal a total of 4,668 officers resigned between April 2022 and March 2023.

This is the highest number since comparable records began 16 years ago and shows a 32 per cent increase on the 3,533 who left the service in 2021/22.

The data shows 67 officers resigned from Suffolk Police in the 12 months to last March.

A further four retired on medical grounds during the same period and 35 took normal retirement.

Some 13 officers transferred to other forces while one was dismissed, taking the total number of departures for the year to 120.

Suffolk Police Federation chair Darren Harris said officer retention was a “massive issue” across policing and that the figures came as no surprise.

Record numbers of officers are turning their backs on policing

He said: “We have been warning of a retention crisis in policing for many years but it has always fallen on deaf ears.

“Many of our members feel overworked and under-appreciated and the demands and expectations placed on them continue to grow.

“It should come as no surprise that record numbers are finally saying enough’s enough and looking for employment elsewhere.

“Years of cutbacks have resulted in a police service which is under-funded, under-resourced and under-staffed.

“Police officers do their utmost to protect the public but demand is continuing to outstrip resources and that has become unsustainable so it’s no wonder so many colleagues have decided to leave the service.

“It is a massive issue. It feels like officers are leaving daily.”

The number of officers leaving the service was highlighted as the Home Office hailed the success of the Police Uplift Programme which saw the recruitment of more than 20,000 officers across the country.

Suffolk Police was told to take on an extra 179 officers when the programme was launched in 2019 but exceeded that figure by 22 by bringing in a total of 201 new recruits.

The latest revised figures show the Force had a total of 1,399 officers as of March 31.