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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Police officer numbers: Thousands 'plan to leave service' | Police officer numbers: Thousands 'plan to leave service' |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| More than 5,000 police officers in England and Wales are planning to leave the service in the next two years, a Police Federation survey suggests. | More than 5,000 police officers in England and Wales are planning to leave the service in the next two years, a Police Federation survey suggests. |
| Of the 32,000 officers who responded, 94% said they believed morale in the service was low or very low. | Of the 32,000 officers who responded, 94% said they believed morale in the service was low or very low. |
| The online survey aimed to measure the impact of reforms which followed a review of police pay and conditions. | The online survey aimed to measure the impact of reforms which followed a review of police pay and conditions. |
| The Police Federation has warned that the service could be left without enough experienced officers. | The Police Federation has warned that the service could be left without enough experienced officers. |
| The federation represents police officers up to the rank of chief inspector in England and Wales. | The federation represents police officers up to the rank of chief inspector in England and Wales. |
| The survey, which was released to BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast, found 94% of officers believe morale in the service was low, compared with 62% in the armed forces, who were asked the same question. | The survey, which was released to BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast, found 94% of officers believe morale in the service was low, compared with 62% in the armed forces, who were asked the same question. |
| Some 59% of police officers said their own personal morale was low, compared with 28% of people in the armed forces. | Some 59% of police officers said their own personal morale was low, compared with 28% of people in the armed forces. |
| 'Experience gap' | 'Experience gap' |
| In his 2011 report into police pay and conditions, former rail regulator Tom Winsor called for the abolition of a series of allowances and special payments and for a pay system that recognised hard work and merit instead of long service. | In his 2011 report into police pay and conditions, former rail regulator Tom Winsor called for the abolition of a series of allowances and special payments and for a pay system that recognised hard work and merit instead of long service. |
| Mr Winsor said his recommendations, which included making savings of £60m a year in overtime, would produce savings of £485m in three years. | Mr Winsor said his recommendations, which included making savings of £60m a year in overtime, would produce savings of £485m in three years. |
| Reforms, including a £4,000 cut in starting salaries, were then introduced by Home Secretary Theresa May in 2013 after the proposals were considered by the Police Arbitration Tribunal. | Reforms, including a £4,000 cut in starting salaries, were then introduced by Home Secretary Theresa May in 2013 after the proposals were considered by the Police Arbitration Tribunal. |
| The survey asked officers how the reforms had affected morale. Some 91% said that they had felt some reduction to morale following changes to overtime and rest day payments. | The survey asked officers how the reforms had affected morale. Some 91% said that they had felt some reduction to morale following changes to overtime and rest day payments. |
| The survey found the pension age increase had led to 87.2% of officers feeling like their morale had dropped. | The survey found the pension age increase had led to 87.2% of officers feeling like their morale had dropped. |
| The Police Federation's statement introducing the results said: "Our survey suggests 15% are planning to leave the service. | The Police Federation's statement introducing the results said: "Our survey suggests 15% are planning to leave the service. |
| "Forces should not be complacent that they have enough officers to fill their current quotas, it's likely that when the job market picks up these officers will go, leaving an experience gap." | "Forces should not be complacent that they have enough officers to fill their current quotas, it's likely that when the job market picks up these officers will go, leaving an experience gap." |
| Bedfordshire Chief Constable Colette Paul said her force had been 60 officers short until recently, and told 5 live it had put the force under a lot of pressure. | Bedfordshire Chief Constable Colette Paul said her force had been 60 officers short until recently, and told 5 live it had put the force under a lot of pressure. |
| "We actually have real urban challenges here in Bedfordshire, real strong crime challenges which we had to deal with, so if you're 60 short, because every person counts in a force of our size, it does have a big impact. | "We actually have real urban challenges here in Bedfordshire, real strong crime challenges which we had to deal with, so if you're 60 short, because every person counts in a force of our size, it does have a big impact. |
| "But even if morale is affected they go out there and do a great job day in and day out." | "But even if morale is affected they go out there and do a great job day in and day out." |
| Are you a police officer who is thinking of leaving the service? Have you recently resigned? You can email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk | |