Cops Leaving in Droves: Pension Cuts Cited
Morale in Scotland among that country’s law enforcement profession has hit rock bottom, with over 800 officers resigning since the government combined all the country’s agencies into a single force.
Police union leaders expressed shock at the exodus, which included a staggering 748 constables, 42 sergeants, 10 inspectors and seven chief inspectors. A survey of Police Scotland and Scottish Police Authority employees, published last year, revealed that a third of the workforce plan to leave within three years.
Almost half reported that changes to pension arrangements was the main reason behind their decision, with others saying they feel undervalued, lack necessary resources, feel pressure in their job and are unhappy about their work-life balance.
Hundreds of others have been approved for voluntary redundancy and high absence rates in command and control centres are causing concern.
Bosses have also been criticised for Police Scotland’s recruitment and retention of female police officers.
Calum Steele, general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents 98% of rank and file officers, said: “The only reaction I can genuinely express is one of astonishment.
“In excess of 800 officers leaving the service through resignation is an astronomic number but clearly they do point to some significant issues the service needs to identify and address.
“Of course, it’s possible that morale was a consideration but I would be more concerned if the historic problem that the police service had in retaining women officers was a significant contributing factor in these numbers.”
Police Scotland, which is facing a funding gap of £85 million in the next three years, is bound by a Scottish Government commitment to ensure officer numbers do not fall beneath 17,234.
Mr. Steele insists the cost of losing hundreds of officers each year is a major concern, as more money will have to be spent on recruitment and training.
He said the public’s view of policing has “diminished” in the past nine years and added: “Governments have not been able to demonstrate their own confidence and belief in the police service simply because they’ve undertaken very pernicious attacks on general terms and conditions.
“The sad fact is the police service is no longer as attractive a career option as it once was.”
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