The 2024 UNISON police staff pay and morale survey

In 2024, UNISON carried out a comprehensive survey of how our police staff members in England, Scotland and Wales were feeling about their pay and morale.

While 60% of respondents to UNISON's survey said they were proud to work for the police, this commitment is not being reciprocated by the police service or the government:

• Only 23% of respondents feel valued at work;
• Only 29% would recommend working for the police service to other;
• 64% said morale in their force is either low or very low;
• 63% say that they feel worse off than they did 5 years ago;
• One fifth of respondents are either intending to leave policing in the next two years or are actively looking for a new job. 

So, what has gone wrong? 

The answer can be found in our survey results:

• 30% of respondents found their jobs either very or extremely stressful;
• 73% said there were insufficient staff in their workplace to get the job done;
• 35% said they were pressured to work long hours; 11% said this happens often or always;
• 42% said they found it difficult to carry out work tasks because they have been too fatigued;
• 58% said they have been so fatigued it has interfered with their family or social life;
• 70% of survey participants have gone to work in the past 12 months when they shouldn’t have due to their physical health;
• 75% say that their pay has not maintained their living standards.

It is UNISON’s job to draw these results to the attention of police leaders and to the government. A Police Reform White paper is expected for England and Wales in 2025. There is a real opportunity for policy makers to reflect on these survey results and act to value our members properly and to improve the way that they are managed and paid.