One in five police officers plan to quit over pay and ‘lack of respect’ from government, survey shows

Police, who are legally barred from striking, are resigning in their droves, putting Boris Johnson’s 20,000 pledge at risk

Metropolitan Police recruits marching during a Metropolitan Police passing out parade for new officers at Peel House in Hendon (Nick Ansell/PA) (PA Archive)

One in five police officers plan to quit amid rising anger over pay, working conditions and treatment by the government, a survey suggests.

Polling of almost 37,000 officers in England and Wales showed forces to be at “crisis point and the police service is on its knees”, the Police Federation said.

The findings place Boris Johnson’s pledge to recruit 20,000 extra constables by the end of March in fresh doubt, with voluntary resignations already at a record high.