Police Federation Pay and Morale Report reveals feelings of Hampshire and Dorset officers

Four out of five police officers in Dorset and Hampshire feel like they are financially worse off than they were five years ago, according to new figures.

Researchers from the Police Federation found 85% of Dorset officers are now feeling worse off, and 20% of them “never” or “almost never” have enough money to cover all their essentials.

Among Hampshire officers, 81% feel worse off now compared to 2019, while 15% said they “never” or “almost never” have enough cash for essentials.

According to the federation’s 2023 Pay and Morale Report, some 88% of respondents in Dorset have seen their living costs increase in the previous month. Some 69% of those officers are dissatisfied with their pay.

Some 16% of Dorset Police officers who responded to the survey said they intend to resign from the force ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can’.

The federation report found 90% of Hampshire’s officers have seen living cost increases in the previous month, with 73% of them now dissatisfied with their pay.

Among Hampshire officers, 18% responding to the survey said they plan to quit the force within two years or as soon as possible.

Dorset Police Federation chair James Dimmack said: “These results are not unexpected and that statement in itself is alarming. Policing is constantly under scrutiny and officers are being assaulted and often vilified by the press and public alike.

He continued: “Policing has always been about more than money it is about making a difference. The officers of Dorset make a difference every minute of every day. We can’t rely on that good will we have to nurture it appreciate it and ultimately reward it.

“The levels of stress, sickness and violence suffered by our officers cannot be accepted.”

Hampshire Police Federation chair Zoe Wakefield said: “Policing is a difficult and dangerous job. Police officers deserve to be fairly paid and treated fairly by the government. Neither of those things are happening at the moment so it is no surprise that officers are leaving and looking for jobs outside of policing.

She continued by saying she will soon be meeting Hampshire’s Chief Constable Scott Chilton to discuss the results of the Police Federation’s survey to determine “what more can be done” to support officers.