Workloads and assault risks driving away PCs

POLICE FEDERATION WARN OF 'UNSUSTAINABLE' PRESSURES

- By CARL EVE

DEVON and Cornwall Police’s Federation - who represent rank and file officers - has said higher workloads, increased scrutiny from the public and the “very real risk of being assaulted” is the underlying cause of more police officers leaving the service.

The latest government figures show thousands of officers are still quitting forces, with Devon and Cornwall Police losing 133 of their own over the last financial year.

The Government's own figures have revealed that between March 31 2024 and March 31 2025 the police forces of England and Wales saw an increase in the number of Chief Officers (above the rank of Chief Superintendents) rise from 245 to 263, the number of constables dropped from 114,976 to 1136,225 - a loss of 1,751 officers.

In that same time police staff rose from 80,917 to 81,996 while the number of Special Constabulary (volunteers officers) dropped from 6,118 to 5,534 and the number of police support volunteers went from 7,211 to 5,844.