Alarm is growing among police chiefs, who have a record number of rookies on their forces while experienced officers are quitting.
It is feared there are too few qualified officers to drive cars in chases, sex offenders are not being checked properly and investigations are led by inexperienced supervisors.
Home Office figures show that in the past seven years the total of officers with more than ten years’ service has fallen from 83,987 to 71,274.
Since 2019, the number of experienced officers has been falling by 150 every month. Over the same period, the number of police with less than ten years of experience has risen from 44,007 to 77,178.
In 2019, experienced officers made up almost two-thirds of forces. Now those with ten years service are outnumbered by their more inexperienced colleagues.
Critics say pressure of the job and the rise of bureaucracy and scrutiny have led to ‘old hands’ quitting.
The figures come as Suffolk Police admitted paying £3,500 compensation to 51-year-old Nichola Corr after drugs raid officers were caught throwing her lingerie around and laughing at her sex toys.
An internal investigation found the officers were all ‘very young in terms of service’ and their behaviour was ‘considered to be more due to immaturity than spite’.Â
Suffolk Police admitted paying £3,500 compensation to 51-year-old Nichola Corr (pictured) after drugs raid officers were caught throwing her lingerie around and laughing at her sex toys
File image:Â Home Office figures show that in the past seven years the total of officers with more than ten years’ service has fallen from 83,987 to 71,274
The Police Federation of England and Wales said: ‘Officers with years of service are leaving in record numbers, taking with them the wisdom, leadership and operational experience younger colleagues rely on.
‘There has been dangerous complacency in government about the retention crisis and without decisive action on pay, welfare and wellbeing support this issue will worsen, leaving communities less safe.’
Kevin Moore, former head of Sussex CID, said: ‘Pay has fallen away dramatically in recent years.
‘I have heard of sergeants who are leaving to become train drivers where they can earn up to £70,000 a year.’
Salaries for a constable range from £30,000 to £48,000, while a sergeant gets between £51,500 and £61,000. An inspector is paid between £54,000 and £66,000.
National Police Chiefs’ Council’s lead for workforce, Chief Constable Jason Hogg, said: ‘Although policing remains a vocation that is attractive to many, we must closely focus on retaining the skills and experience, creating a service which actively supports our workforce, in what is a rewarding but tough career, so that we foster the huge amount of talent within our workforce.’
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