Police Leavers:
Where Do They Go?
Every year, thousands of police officers leave policing. Some retire after 30 years. Others resign mid-career. This guide explains who is leaving, when, why, and where they typically go next.
Snippet Summary
In the year ending March 2025, thousands of police officers left policing in England and Wales. Over half of leavers have exited through voluntary resignation rather than retirement.
Primary Exit Types:
- Retirement (Long Service)
- Voluntary Resignation (Mid-Career)
- Dismissal / Medical Exit
Common Next Destinations:
The growing trend is not officers finishing long careers — it is trained officers leaving before reaching peak experience.
The Three Types of Police Leavers
1. Retirement
The traditional pathway: 20–30 years' service, pension access, and a planned exit. No longer the majority exit pathway.
2. Resignation
The most significant shift. mid-career officers with under 10-20 years' service leaving peak operational years.
3. Dismissal/Exit
Smaller proportion: includes gross misconduct dismissals, ill-health retirement, and capability exits.
Where Do Police Officers Go After Leaving?
While no single dataset tracks individual post-police careers, consistent patterns emerge across private and public sectors.
Private Sector Security & Risk
- Corporate investigations & loss prevention
- Security management & intelligence analysis
- Risk advisory and threat assessment
Regulatory & Compliance
- Financial compliance & anti-money laundering
- Fraud prevention & regulatory investigations
- Evidence handling & case management roles
Public Sector Enforcement
- Local authority enforcement & safeguarding
- Housing investigations & civil service roles
- Often attractive for predictable hours & pension portability
Specialist Consultancy
- Digital forensics & cyber-security
- Expert witness work & forensics advisory
- Organised crime and counter-fraud consultancy
Why Officers Leave Before Retirement
Voluntary resignation now accounts for a significant share of exits. Common factors cited across workforce data and exit surveys include:
- Work-life balance & shift fatigue
- Organisational culture & strain
- Promotion & career frustration
- High psychological & wellbeing strain
The Economic Trade-Off
Leaving before pension age means losing future accrual and potential actuarial reduction. However, some private sector roles offer higher base salaries, predictable hours, and significantly lower psychological strain.
What This Means for Policing
When mid-career officers leave, it is not simply a numbers issue — it is an experience distribution issue. The headline stats often mask the reality of the front line:
Supervision Gap
Supervision depth reduces as experienced Sergeants exit.
Tutor Strain
Tutor capacity shrinks for new probationary intakes.
Knowledge Loss
Institutional knowledge in investigations disappears.
Headcount stability does not equal experience stability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do most police officers go after leaving?
Common destinations include private security, corporate investigations, compliance roles, and local government enforcement.
Are police resignations increasing?
Recent workforce data shows elevated voluntary resignation compared to historical norms.
Do officers regret leaving?
There is no official dataset measuring regret. Outcomes vary depending on financial planning and job match.
Can officers return after resigning?
In some cases, yes. Forces may allow re-entry subject to vetting and eligibility criteria.
Does leaving affect pension?
Yes. Pension accrual stops. Early departure may reduce long-term retirement income.