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

 

Today, on International Workers’ Day, North Wales 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 North Wales 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.

 

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

 

During PFEW’s Pay and Morale survey in 2024, 52% of respondents from North Wales felt that morale within the force was ‘low’ or ‘very low’.

 

16% told us that they intend to resign from the police service either ‘within the next two years’ or ‘as soon as they can’.

 

70% said that they are ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their overall remuneration.

 

87% reported that their cost of living had increased with 80% of respondents feeling that they were worse off financially than they were five years ago.

 

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

 

Lewis Davies, General Secretary of North Wales Police Federation, said: "Our officers are overworked, underpaid and under threat while their real income continues to shrink. We have officers relying on overtime, struggling with their physical and mental health, and feeling forced to consider leaving the role they love.

 

"Police Officers across all roles from frontline to investigation put up with being punched, bitten and spat at, 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."

 

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