Choose another career, say most Midlands police Low pay and stress hit morale in force
MORE than seven out of ten serving West Midlands police officers say they would not recommend a career in the force to other people.
Low pay and a growing workload are highlighted as problems which make policing a poor career choice.
The poor morale in Midland police forces was revealed in a survey by the Police Federation, the trade union for officers.
It found 74.9 per cent of officers in West Midlands Police would not recommend police to others.
And 88.4 per cent said they did not feel fairly paid for the stresses and strains of their job.
The survey found 72 per cent of officers reported their workload had increased over the past 12 months.
However, most officers were planning to stay in the force, with 13.8 per cent saying they planned to leave in the next two years.
Police pay has been limited by the government’s policy of limiting annual increases to one per cent, which is below the rate of inflation said they joining the and means pay terms.
Cuts to is being cut in real police budgets have also meant the number of officers has fallen, which may contribute to an increased workload. The number of officers employed by West Midlands Police has been reduced by 2,000 over the past seven years while the force has lost a quarter of its budget.
Nationally, the federation’s annual pay and morale survey also found that more than one in ten officers say their meagre salaries mean they cannot afford to pay for essential items.
Ashley Bertie, assistant Police and Crime Commissioner for West Midlands Police, said: “This highlights the huge pressures that officers are under. The threats that West Mid-
The threats that West Midlands Police are dealing with are more complex and higher than ever
lands Police are dealing with are more complex and higher than ever. Due to massive government cuts we have fewer people doing more work. The huge level of cuts have put officers under greater pressure than ever before.
“These figures are a cause for concern and that is why we have greatly increased the support we give to officers and staff and have driven efficiencies to increase officer recruitment to 800.
“The government should listen to rank and file officers and the pressures that they are under and change course on police funding.”
Assistant Police and Crime Commissioner Ashley Bertie