Copped Enough: ‘reform police pay and conditions’ urges Fed chair

1 May 2025

Today, on International Workers’ Day (1 May) Suffolk Police Federation is backing the 'Copped Enough' campaign, a national movement exposing the pay crisis and rising dangers facing police officers.

Launched by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), Copped Enough: What the Police Take Home is Criminal comes as a result of officers' real pay dropping by 20 per cent since 2010. This is despite the increasing trauma and danger they are exposed to.

Branch chair Darren Harris said: “We’re seeing officers at breaking point. Our members are underpaid, overworked and constantly under pressure.

“I’ve seen high-quality, experienced officers leaving the Force due to their pay and poor working conditions. They have simply 'copped enough'.

“Unless we act now, policing and public safety will continue to deteriorate.”

The campaign calls for action in three areas:

1. Restore police pay

• Urgent and fully-funded pay restoration

• Introduce a ‘P-Factor’ allowance to reflect the unique demands and risks of policing

• A binding, independent pay review system, free from political interference

2. Stop the exodus of experienced officers

• Develop retention packages for skilled officers

• Implement a national workforce strategy focused on experience, not just recruitment numbers

• Improve work-life balance with better parental leave, protected rest days, and career transition support

3. Protect frontline officers

• Enforce tougher sentencing for those who assault police

• Centralised funding for police treatment centres

• Mandatory national recording of suicides and suicide attempts in the service, with dedicated mental health support

The campaign has been launched on the same day as the recent Pay and Morale Survey results have been released. These revealed that 78 per cent of those who participated in Suffolk said they are financially worse off now than they were five years ago.

The survey demonstrated the reality for officers in Suffolk:

• 86 per cent of participants feel their cost of living has increased in the last month

• 57 per cent said that they are ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their overall remuneration (including basic pay and allowances) 

• 85 per cent feel that morale in Force is ‘low’ or ‘very low’

• 80 per cent have experienced stress, low mood or anxiety over the last 12 months

• 69 per cent don’t feel valued in policing

• 92 per cent admit to not feeling valued by the Government

“It’s clear that policing is becoming a job that our members simply cannot afford to do,” added Darren.

“Well enough is enough. It’s time that the pay and conditions of our hard-working members are reformed and restored.”

Darren, who is calling on the Government and public alike to demand immediate action before more officers walk away for good, ended: “We throw our full support behind this campaign and will not stop shouting about it until our voices are heard.”

As part of the campaign, the public is being urged to stand with police and their families by joining a digital picket line at www.polfed.org/campaigns/copped-enough