Officers have Copped Enough - campaign launched by Police Federation

1 May 2025

Copped Enough: Leicestershire Police Federation Calls for Urgent Action on Police Pay and Welfare

Today, on International Workers’ Day, Leicestershire Police Federation is backing the national launch of Copped Enough: What the Police Take Home is Criminal — a hard-hitting campaign exposing the crisis in policing that is endangering officers' lives and putting public safety at risk.

This is a day that celebrates the dignity of labour and the right of every worker to fair pay and safe conditions — yet police officers in Leicestershire face spiralling trauma, violence and risk while losing a fifth of their pay in real terms since 2010.

The campaign calls on the public to support police and their families by joining a “digital picket line” in protest at www.polfed.org/campaigns/copped-enough

The Reality for Our Officers:

Nationally, 10,000 officers will resign every year by 2027 — forcing the government to spend £9.9 billion recruiting and training their replacements just to stand still. In Leicestershire 20% intend to resign within the next two years or leave as soon as they can.

35% of police officers in England and Wales have five or less year’s experience today, a third more than in 2020.

In Leicestershire over 90% of officers do not feel respected by the government.

In Leicestershire 85% of officers have experienced stress, low mood, anxiety over the last twelve months.

Locally, Leicestershire Police Federation warns the crisis is deepening, with recruitment and retention issues already impacting policing in our communities.

Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said:
"Our officers are overworked, underpaid and under threat while their real income continues to shrink. We have officers using food banks, struggling with mental health, and feeling forced to leave the job they love.

Police Officers put up with more than most but too many have just Copped Enough. Without urgent action to restore fair pay and protect welfare, we face a dangerous loss of experience and a direct threat to the safety of our communities.

20% of Leicestershire Police officers are looking to leave and have cited the reasons as morale, the impact on their family and the impact on their mental health. Who is there to protect the public if these officers leave?

Over 900 officers were assaulted in Leicestershire last year, over 10% of officers required medical treatment due to these assaults.

Police officers are exposed to approximately 400 traumatic incidents over their service. They need the support and the pay for these conditions; at the moment they don’t get either”

The Campaign Calls for Immediate Action on Three Key Areas:

Restore Police Pay

Urgent, fully-funded action on fair pay
Full recognition of an army-style “P-Factor” allowance recognising the unique risks of policing
Implement a binding, independent pay review system to remove political interference

Stop the Mass Exodus of Experienced Officers

Provide a retention package to keep skilled officers in policing
Develop a workforce plan focused on retention, not just recruitment
Support work-life balance, including protecting rest days, improved parental leave and transition support

Protect Officers on the Frontline

Enforce stronger sentencing for assaults on police officers
Fund police treatment centres centrally
Provide robust mental health support, including mandatory national recording of suicides and attempted suicides