Metfriendly launches latest survey on officers’ financial wellbeing

It will be the third time that Metfriendly – financial experts dedicated to the UK police service – has run the survey, with its last version showing that officers were missing meals to save money and make ends meet.

Almost 90 per cent of the more than 3,200 officers who replied to the last survey earlier this year said they had financial concerns with nearly one in ten saying they had used a food bank to support themselves and their family.

One in four said they were missing meals – a key indicator of household poverty – with 60 per cent stating they were doing more overtime to make ends meet, 26 per cent having a second job, 40 per cent selling their possessions and 37 per cent thinking about leaving the police service.

It was revealed earlier this year that almost 9,200 officers left the police service in the year to March, up more than 1,000 on the previous 12 months, and the proportion departing through voluntary resignation is “rocketing”, says Metfriendly.

It said the pressure police officers are under “is stark”. Figures show more than 110 officers are assaulted in England and Wales every day – 40,330 assaults on officers in the past financial year – and more than 13,500 officers were signed off work due to stress, depression, anxiety or post-traumatic stress disorder over the same period.

Metfriendly says its survey – which can be completed by serving officers, police staff and retired officers – has already proved to be of value to many police forces across the UK, giving some detailed insights into the financial pressures and circumstances faced by the ‘police family’.

The last national report was used in 2023 Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB) submissions and cited by the final PRRB report as being one of the pieces of evidence used when securing the recommended level of national pay rise, which officers received on September 1 – a still below inflationary seven per cent.

Martin Bellingham, Metfriendly’s membership support director, said: “We would encourage as many UK police officers as possible to complete the survey. The results really can make a difference.

“With wellbeing levels across the UK police family being severely impacted by the cost-of-living crisis, this research will help inform all involved in police wellbeing to get a better understanding of the current situation and how it has changed over time.

“We are expecting to discuss the Metfriendly Police Family Finance Index as part of Talk Money Week in early November, so this is the ideal time to encourage your colleagues to respond and help improve the levels of financial wellbeing across the UK police family.”

Speaking earlier this month, Steve Hartshorn, chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales, said: “It’s pleasing the PRRB listened to what we and others have been saying – and the pay uplift of seven per cent is a welcome step in the right direction.

“But according to the Social Market Foundation, we are at least 17 per cent behind where we should be, so I trust this year is just the start of putting things right to ensure police pay is fair.”

Metfriendly says officers should contact their local Police Federation if they have not received a link to the survey in their inbox.