Lancashire Police Pay and Morale Report

10 April 2024

83% of Lancashire Police officers feel ‘worse off’ financially now than they were five years ago and 17% ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have enough money to cover all their essentials.

According to the 2023 Police Federation of England and Wales Pay and Morale Report – published today - 91% of respondents have seen living cost increases in the previous month and 76% of officers are dissatisfied with their pay.

Worryingly, 13% of Lancashire Police officers who responded to the survey said they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as [they] can’.

Whilst Police Officers received a 7% pay rise in 2023, they have still seen an incredible 16% real-terms pay cut over the past 12 years. 

Police chiefs have pointed out that the high cost of living in the UK is placing an even bigger strain on officers, as well as hampering recruitment. They have asked the Government for officers to receive a 6% pay rise in 2024. 

Officers are also struggling with low morale and lack of support, the survey found. 94% of officers said they do not feel respected by the Government, and 48% said they were experiencing low morale.

68% of respondents from Lancashire Police said that they would not recommend joining the police to others. 64% said they do not feel valued within the service.

Zeg Awan, Chair of Lancashire Police Federation, said: “What this survey highlights is that the Government has consistently refused or chosen to ignore officers concerns over the past decade or so.

“The service is underfunded in real terms, is under resourced and our officers feel unappreciated and unsupported by their Government.

“This is resulting in officers being overworked, underpaid, and suffering a real detriment to their mental health and wellbeing. More than ever officers are considering leaving the job. This should be a wake-up call for the Government. You cannot run a world class service on a shoestring.

“Chief Constables can only rearrange the deckchairs so many times before something gives. It is disrespectful to the people of Lancashire, who expect a first-class service from their Police, and it is disrespectful to the people expected to deliver the service.

“I would ask if not now, then when will the Government be serious in investing in the Police? I would urge the government to work with the Federation and other policing partners to improve pay and conditions for officers and invest in Policing so we can have a fit and proper service for the 21st century.”

Officers are coming under attack from the public too, the report showed, with 13% having suffered one or more injuries that required medical attention as a result of work-related violence in the last year.

Only 11% of officers who responded reported having access to double crewing at all times whilst on duty.

61% of respondents from Lancashire Police said that over the last 12 months, their workload has been ‘too high’ or ‘much too high’. 7% of officers said that they have ‘never’ or ‘rarely’ been able to take an 11-hour break between shifts in the last 12 months and 29% said they feel ‘always’ or ‘often’ feel pressured into working long hours.

Sadly, 86% of respondents from Lancashire Police indicated that they had experienced feelings of stress, low mood, anxiety, or other difficulties with their health and wellbeing over the last 12 months, and 50% said that they find their job ‘very’ or ‘extremely’ stressful.

The survey is based on 650 responses received from Lancashire Police officers.