Experienced Officers Leaving In Their Thousands

8 September 2025

More investment is needed in policing to stop experienced officers leaving the service.

Sussex Police Federation has called for a “genuine commitment” from the Government to invest in the service, after new figures show that on average,150 experienced officers have left policing every month since 2019.

Sussex Police Federation Chair Raffaele Cioffi said: “Brave decisions on pay and working conditions are needed if we are to change the tide.

“But equally, we must recognise that unsustainable workloads are taking a real toll on morale, and this is a heavy influence in officers’ decisions to leave policing.

“Meaningful change requires a genuine commitment from Government, one that must be backed by real investment.”

Figures from the Home Office show the total number of officers nationally with more than 10 years' service has fallen from 83,987 to 71,274.

Over the same period, the number of officers with less than 10 years of experience has risen from 44,007 to 77,178.

In 2019, experienced officers made up almost two thirds of forces. Now those with 10 years’ service are outnumbered by their more inexperienced colleagues.