How Many Officers Are Leaving
Because of Pay?
What the official workforce data shows, what it cannot prove, and the strongest indicators that pay pressure is driving resignations.
Updated: February 2026 | Next Review: February 2027
The Short Answer
The Home Office workforce statistics tell us how many officers leave (>8,700 resignations/yr) and how many resign, but they do not record a single national 'pay' reason for each resignation.
To understand whether pay is a driver, we have to combine resignation patterns with measurable pay-pressure indicators like real-terms pay erosion, housing affordability gaps, overtime dependency, and workforce survey intention-to-leave data.
Data Sources Used
- Home Office Police Workforce Statistics Primary source for volume of leavers and resignation types (England & Wales).
- Police Financial Pressure Index 2026 Internal modelling of disposable income vs cost of living.
- Pay Awards 2010-2026 Historical tracking of flat cash awards vs percentage uplifts.
Limits of the Data
We cannot state "X officers left because of pay" unless an official dataset directly measures that specific reason code.
Instead, we estimate "pay pressure contribution likelihood" by triangulating economic indicators with exit trends.
1. The Baseline: Resignation Volume
Before analysing why, we must establish how many. The volume of voluntary resignations (officers choosing to leave before retirement) has risen sharply.
| Metric | Figure (2024/25 Est) | Trend Analysis |
|---|---|---|
| Total Headcount (FTE) | ~149,500 | Stabilised post-uplift |
| Total Leavers | High Volume | Includes retirements & transfers |
| Voluntary Resignations | 8,795 | Record High Levels |
| Resignation % Share | 53.1% | Majority of leavers now resign |
Why "Because of Pay" is Hard to Measure
Exit interviews vary by force and are rarely published nationally. Furthermore, people leave for complex reasons. Pay is often the amplifier.
The Direct Cause?
"I am resigning to take a job that pays £5k more."
The Underlying Cause?
"I am resigning because the commute is too long." (Because I cannot afford to live closer).
2. The 4 Pay-Pressure Proxies
Real-Terms Erosion Since 2010
When pay fails to keep up with inflation, the job simply becomes less viable. Our analysis shows a cumulative loss of purchasing power of roughly 20% since 2010. This erosion acts as a constant background pressure, making every bill harder to pay than it was a decade ago.
Read full Real Terms AnalysisCumulative Value Loss
~20%
Since 2010 (CPI Adjusted)
Lending Cap
4.5x
Max salary multiple for mortgages
Housing Affordability Mismatch
Resignation rates in the South East correlate with housing affordability gaps. When a Constable cannot buy a property within 1 hour of their station, the friction of commuting and the inability to "settle down" creates a structural trigger for resignation.
Explore Property Affordability AtlasStructural Overtime Dependency
When overtime shifts from "optional bonus" to "essential bill money", officers lose the ability to rest. This leads to burnout. An officer leaving because they are "burned out" may fundamentally be leaving because they could not afford to stop working overtime.
Calculate Overtime Net PayBurnout Risk
High
When rest days are sold for income
Contribution Rate
12-14%
Of pensionable pay (Tier 1-2)
Pension Contribution Drag
Police officers pay some of the highest pension contributions in the public sector. For a young officer struggling for cashflow today, a 12.44% deduction for a benefit 35 years away can feel unsustainable, driving opt-outs or total resignation.
Visit Pension HubInteractive Estimators
Pay Pressure Quick Check
Estimate your financial strain level
Stability Estimator
Are you relying on OT to survive?
Est. +£0 net income
Projected Balance
So, how many are leaving because of pay?
Certainty
We know ~8,795 officers voluntarily resigned in 2024/25.
Evidence
We know resignations are highest in early-career years where pay is lowest.
Correlation
We see strong correlation between high housing costs (South East) and higher churn.
Unknown
We cannot definitively calculate a "Pay Causation %" without better Home Office coding.
Resignation FAQ
How many police officers resign each year?
In the year ending March 2024, there were 8,795 recorded voluntary resignations from police forces in England and Wales. This is the highest level on record, significantly exceeding historical averages.
Is pay the main reason police leave?
Official Home Office data does not record 'pay' as a specific valid exit reason. However, workforce surveys consistently cite pay, pensions, and morale as top factors for intention to leave. Our analysis uses proxies like housing affordability and real-terms erosion to estimate this pressure.
Do police resignations happen mostly early career?
Yes. Data consistently shows a high concentration of voluntary resignations among officers with under 5 years of service, often referred to as the 'probationary attrition' or early-career churn.
Does overtime reduce resignations or increase burnout?
Overtime is a double-edged sword. While it provides essential income topping up eroded salaries (structural dependency), excessive reliance on overtime hours contributes significantly to burnout and fatigue, ultimately driving long-term exits.
Has police pay fallen in real terms since 2010?
Yes. Independent analysis suggests police officer pay has fallen by approximately 20% in real terms since 2010 when adjusted for CPI inflation, largely due to pay freezes and sub-inflationary awards during the austerity era.
What percentage of leavers resign rather than retire?
Voluntary resignations now account for over 53% of all leavers from the police service, overtaking normal retirement as the primary exit route in recent years.
Is the South East losing officers faster?
Forces in the South East and London often face higher transfer and resignation pressures due to the extreme mismatch between police salaries and local housing costs, despite London and South East allowances.
Do officers leave because housing is unaffordable?
Housing affordability is a major 'silent' driver of exits. With lending capped at 4.5x salary, many officers in the South East cannot buy a home near their station, leading to long commutes, fatigue, and eventual resignation.
Does opting out of the pension increase take-home enough to help?
Opting out saves 12-14% of gross pay in immediate cash flow, but results in a massive loss of long-term wealth, death-in-service benefits, and tax efficiency. It is often a sign of extreme financial distress rather than a sound financial strategy.
What should I read next if I am thinking of leaving?
We recommend reviewing our 'Police Pension vs Take-Home Pay' guide and the 'Financial Pressure Index' to fully understand your current package value before making a decision.