SOUTH Yorkshire Police Federation is in talks with the force and local MPs after 90% of officers said there was low morale within the force, and 84% were dissatisfied with their remuneration.<\/p>\n
In addition, 58% of respondents from South Yorkshire Police told the Police Federation of England and Wales 2022 Pay and Morale Survey that their morale was currently \u2018low\u2019 or \u2018very low\u2019, which compares poorly to other forces around the country.<\/p>\n
South Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Steve Kent said: \u201cWe were bottom of the Morale Survey when it came to officers working excessive hours, and we need to drastically reduce enforced overtime in our force. The burnout suffered by officers working longer hours every day, or at least once a week, has a catastrophic effect.<\/p>\n
\u201cCredit where it\u2019s due, I have seen a reduction in this and the force are now aware of this problem.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is a light at the end of the tunnel, because the new recruits will start to bed in. But we\u2019re still going to have a period where we are all hands to the pump. Officers are tired, they\u2019re fed up of seeing their pay pretty much frozen, in real terms, and they\u2019re fed up with being lambasted by everybody. It\u2019s massively detrimental.\u201d<\/p>\n
Steve said he was speaking to local MPs about police pay and conditions, and he also encouraged officers to write to their MPs about their personal experiences.<\/p>\n
He added: \u201cWe need to raise awareness and bring this to the doors of the MPs and the people who can actually have some influence. I would implore everyone to write to their MP individually and outline the difficulties they\u2019re facing.\u201d<\/p>\n