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Police officers quitting at some of highest rates on record analysis reveals

By 24 April 2018No Comments

Stephen Morgan MP says Government must wake up to reality of cuts as communities face the consequences of a thinner blue line
New analysis from the House of Commons Library has found that police officers in the England and Wales are leaving the profession at some of the highest levels since records began.
Almost 9,000 officers left the force last year, a rise of close to 50% since Labour left office. Many have put the rise in resignations down to a fall in real-terms pay and soaring workloads.
At 31 March 2017 there were 105,571 police officers in frontline roles – this was the lowest level under the new measurement framework. The number of police officers in frontline roles fell by 14% between 2010 and 2017, and by 0.8% between 2016 and 2017.
The report comes as the Police Federation warns 8 out of 10 officers are displaying signs of depression and anxiety.
Hampshire Police Federation Chair, John Apter, said:
“I’ve been saying for some time that cuts to the policing budgets will have consequences and some of those consequences are that officers are suffering as a result of the pressures being put on them”.
Stephen Morgan MP, said:
This Government’s treatment of our police officers has fallen way below par. It is little wonder so many have had enough of being underpaid and overworked.
Crime has gone up 10% in our city at a time when Hampshire Constabulary has lost £80 million from its budget, with more to come.
These relentless cuts have left forces demoralised and made it far more difficult for our talented officers to do their jobs safely and effectively.
I commend Portsmouth’s police for their continued bravery and commitment under the toughest of conditions. I’ll continue to fight for them and the communities they so ably serve.’