Seven in 10 South Yorkshire officers fed up with the Job

MORALE at South Yorkshire Police is the lowest in the country – with more than seven in ten officers complaining that they are fed up with the Job – a new survey has revealed.

74 per cent of officers told an online survey that their morale is low – compared with 59 per cent of officers from other forces around the country. The results were revealed after the Police Federation of England and Wales quizzed its members on attitudes among officers.

503 South Yorkshire Police officers filled in the online survey and compared with 42 other constabularies, the results showed the force had the highest proportion of officers complaining of low morale.

98 per cent of officers from South Yorkshire Police felt that morale within the force is currently low – the average for the service as a whole was 90 per cent .

More than one in ten respondents said they intend to leave the force within two years, while 25 per cent of officers from South Yorkshire Police said they were undecided about their future with the service.

The problems could be blamed on increasing workloads, poor pay and a lack of career options, the poll showed.

Eight in ten officers said their workload has grown in the last year with 69 per cent of officers saying their workload was too high.

Seven in ten officers said they were dissatisfied with their basic pay, allowances and pensions while 79 per cent said they did not feel that they are paid fairly for the responsibilities they have within their job.

38 per cent of officers said the training they receive is not adequate for their role and 68 per cent said they do not feel that they have good opportunities for promotion.

The results of the Pay and Morale survey report for 2014/15 was submitted to the Police Remuneration Review Body in January. The 2015/16 Pay and Morale survey will be launched soon on the Police Federation of England and Wales website.