Sussex Police Only Has 10 Bobbies On The Beat Per 100,000 Residents

14 October 2024

Sussex Police is “losing experienced officers who possess vital skills and knowledge that cannot easily be replaced”, the Federation has said, as it emerged that the force only has 10 bobbies on the beat per 100,000 residents.

The total police workforce in Sussex is 3,184, which equates to 185 officers per 100,000 residents. But only a fraction of these – 166 – are neighbourhood police officers.

On average, forces in England and Wales have 200 officers per 100,000 people so, with 185 officers per 100,000, Sussex is struggling more than most.

All forces in England and Wales rank below other European countries such as Germany, France, Spain and Ireland. At the top of the list, Turkey and Greece both have over 500 officers per 100,000 residents. Italy and Portugal have over 400 officers per 100,000 people, over double the numbers in England and Wales.

Raffaele Cioffi, Chair of Sussex Police Federation, said: “The European Commission's research highlights the alarming disparity in police numbers, with England and Wales lagging significantly behind other nations. Addressing the current crisis in recruitment and retention requires more than temporary measures; it demands a sustained and meaningful investment in policing.

“The reality is clear: policing is one of the most challenging professions, requiring unwavering commitment and resilience. The Government’s continued failure to offer fair compensation and recognition not only undermines the value of this critical work, but also exacerbates the growing retention problem.

“Police officers are leaving the profession at an unprecedented rate, often citing inadequate pay, unrealistic demands, and the overwhelming pressures of the job as key reasons. We are losing experienced officers who possess vital skills and knowledge that cannot easily be replaced. Without immediate action, we risk a deepening workforce crisis, which will further compromise the safety of our communities.

“The Government must acknowledge the seriousness of this issue and commit to meaningful reforms.”

Tiff Lynch, Acting Chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, told the MailOnline, who collated the research: "A sustained recruitment and retention programme for police officers is desperately needed."