Pay and Morale Survey: Essex Police Officers outline how they are struggling to cope

A shocking 87% of Essex Police officers feel worse off financially than they were five years ago, new research has found.

24% of officers never or almost never have enough money to cover all their essentials, and eight in ten (82%) are dissatisfied with their overall remuneration.

A total of 1,256 officers responded to the latest Police Federation of England and Wales Pay and Morale Survey.

Last year police officers across England and Wales were given an average of a 5% pay rise – but this was way below inflation booming now at more than 10%. Household bills are rising sharply and over the past 12 years police officer pay has fallen in real terms by 25%.

98% of respondents from Essex Police 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.

Mood and wellbeing are suffering too, the research has found. 84% of said morale within the force is currently ‘low’ or ‘very low’ with 14% saying they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can’.

A huge 94% said that they do not feel respected by the government, with two thirds saying they would not recommend joining the police to others.

Officers are also under attack from the public; 21% had suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year.

Four in ten said their job was ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressful, and 83% said they had experienced feelings of  stress, low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months.

Laura Heggie, Chair of Essex Police Federation, said: “Sadly, once again the results didn’t come as a shock, which is wrong in itself.

“We see the numbers every month leaving Essex Police whether that is to go to other forces or a change of career. Only last month we saw 19 officers leave to other forces, that doesn’t include those we lost last month that have just resigned or retired, sadly those number are not unusual now.

“78% of those who have said they intend to leave have said it’s due to morale. There is a jump to 84% saying that the morale in Essex is Low or Very low.

“The force can bring as many student officers through the door but they have to be trained, they have to stay and they can’t replace experience.”

Laura added: “A real concern for the future is around a future supervisors and leaders.

“Last year we saw additional processes having to be run as Essex were unable to fill Sergeants posts, this latest survey worryingly returned that 88% won’t even consider promotion.

“I have always been proud to be part of Essex Police as a family force with individuals not just numbers, many generations from one family coming through, to see that it has increased to now 66% of the force not recommending it for people to join doesn’t bode well.

“Officers feel let down by the Government over pay, 94% say they are not fairly paid for the stresses and strains of their job.

“There’s not many days now that go by where there isn’t a group of public sector workers going on strike over pay and conditions, we hear of the negotiations going on to increase their pay which adds to our officers frustrations.

“It has to be remembered that the Police aren’t allowed to strike, we don’t have that option to bring attention to our plight. We have officers who can’t afford to live, they can’t afford to feed their families or are not eating themselves in order to be able to feed their children, yet we still expect them to be on the top of their game to protect the public of Essex.”