Officers Struggling To Afford Living Costs

“Until we have a proper conversation about police remuneration, cops are going to keep struggling to balance their household budgets and afford to put decent food on the table.”

That was the response of South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent, after the latest Police Family Finance Index Report was published by Police Friendly. It found that 46% of respondents had considered opting out of their pension in the past 12 months, with 7% going on to stop contributions altogether. Shockingly, the report, based on over 13,500 responses, found that 15% of police officers were missing meals due to lack of money.

Police Friendly said the findings pointed to a growing trend driven by the cost-of-living crisis, with rising housing costs, inflation and stagnant real-term pay forcing many officers to make difficult short-term financial decisions – often at the expense of their future.

Officers aged under 35 were significantly more likely to both consider and act on pension opt-outs, highlighting a potential long-term generational impact on retirement outcomes.

Nearly four in 10 officers said they were in significant debt when their housing costs were included. Over two thirds (68%) reported financial concerns, and over half (56%) said their financial situation had worsened over the past year.

When asked what steps they would take to improve their personal financial situation over the next 12 months, 54% of officers planned to do more overtime to make ends meet, 16% are considering doing a second job, and 32% are thinking of changing their job and leaving the police.

Steve said: “The survey results don’t surprise me, sadly. We had a food bank a couple of years ago, and it was used quite a lot. It is something we would consider again if we thought there was a real need for it.

“When you’ve got spiralling rental costs, fuel costs and everything else, it’s inevitable that we’re going to get this, and the only way we’re going to deal with it is to sort out police pay. Until we have a proper conversation about police remuneration, cops are going to keep struggling to balance their household budgets and afford to put decent food on the table.”

Steve said the high number of officers considering leaving the service was due to the whole policing package, not just pay: “It’s also the pressure that they’re under, and the amount of rest days that they can’t take. Cops are exhausted, and they’re not being paid enough for that pressure.

“Particularly when you look at our inspecting ranks, they’re working some of the longest hours in policing. And yes, they earn more, but they don’t get any overtime. It actually works out that they can earn less than PCs and sergeants who are on overtime – that just can’t be right. The whole system needs a radical overhaul.”