In addition to the publication of the findings of the 4th annual national police wellbeing survey, this year we are also releasing the findings of a pivotal second report which has been developed by the National Police Wellbeing Service and Durham University.
This second report, which we refer to as a ‘summary of research in policing’ serves to triangulate and combine insights from various key sources, including the Police Federation of England and Wales, UNISON, The Police Superintendents Association, and previous National Police Wellbeing Service annual wellbeing surveys.
It also incorporates research on identified issues conducted by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS), the National Police Chiefs Council, the Police Uplift Programme, Police Care UK, and the work of Professor Jennifer Brown and her colleagues.
Together, these two crucial pieces of work (the annual national police wellbeing survey and the summary of research in policing) offer a much broader view of the challenges and issues faced by the policing workforce.
This joined up approach not only reinforces the findings of the annual wellbeing survey, but also provides a deeper understanding of the underlying themes and concerns within the policing community.
It also ensures that strategies and interventions at a national level are informed by a comprehensive and specific understanding of the wellbeing needs of everyone who works in policing.
You can read both reports in full using the buttons at the end of this article.
National Wellbeing Survey 2023 findings
The totally independent survey, carried out with the Policing Research Unit at Durham University, ran for seven weeks from May to July 2023 and is now the largest independent study in policing. With over 42,000 responses, this survey now stands as the most extensive independent analysis of workplace health in the policing sector.
There were responses from 23,616 police officers (of all ranks), 16,183 police staff (of all grades) 1,553 PCSOs, 205 special constables and 100 volunteers.
We’ve taken a selection of the findings from the report to provide a brief overview and summary below – please read the report using the buttons at the end of this article for the detail in full.
What this year’s results tell us:
Positive findings
- Reduction in symptoms of depression: Both police officers and staff have shown a decrease in symptoms of depression, with levels being the lowest since the first survey in 2019/20.1.
- Decrease in symptoms of anxiety for police staff: There has been a significant decrease in symptoms of anxiety among police staff, reaching the lowest average level since the first survey in 2019/20.
- Resilience: Moderately high average levels of resilience were reported for both police officers and police staff. Professional identity in police officers and confidence in job skills in police staff were positively associated with resilience.
- Confidence in job skills: High average levels of confidence in job skills were reported for both police officers and police staff, contributing to a sense of competence and effectiveness.
- Sense of control at work: A moderately high average level of sense of control at work was reported by police staff, indicating a degree of autonomy and empowerment in their roles.
Findings requiring further work:
- Decline in emotional energy: There has been a decline in emotional energy for both police officers and police staff, with police officers showing the lowest average level since the first survey in 2019/20, indicating a trend towards burnout.
- High levels of fatigue: A significant proportion of police officers (69.6%) and police staff (56.0%) reported high levels of fatigue, with very high levels experienced by 28.9% of officers and 20.7% of staff.
- Increased intention to quit: The intention to quit has increased to the highest average level since 2019/20 for police officers, with a slight increase also noted for police staff.
- High frequency of hindrance stressors: Police officers reported significantly higher frequencies of hindrance stressors than police staff, with these stressors increasing since the previous survey. These stressors negatively impact perceptions of organisational support and wellbeing.
- Feeling less valued: Both police officers and staff reported lower average levels of feeling valued by their force, with the lowest average levels recorded since the first survey in 2019/20.
Andy Rhodes, Service Director for the National Police Wellbeing Service said: “The findings from both these pieces of work highlight some significant strategic issues for policing. The issues of stress, anxiety, and trauma among our officers and staff, exacerbated by challenging working conditions and hierarchical structures, are not just individual concerns but directly impact the quality of service delivered to the public. Our comprehensive review, integrating findings from a wide array of sources, makes it clear that addressing these wellbeing issues is not optional but a necessity.
‘When we capture the voice of staff who are very close to the work, we can see from their perspective what needs to be prioritised and it’s often the basics relating to workloads, work quality, relationships and resources. This is where the forces who are making inroads have focused their efforts, by stripping back and prioritising what the research and staff voice is telling them.
“While there is an overall downward trend in wellbeing statistics, when analysing local force reports taken from the annual wellbeing survey, certain forces, particularly those with the highest survey response rates, actually demonstrate a positive trajectory. This improvement could be attributed to the executive-level prioritisation of wellbeing. Forces that have taken survey findings seriously are making strides in improving officer and staff wellbeing.
“As the National Police Wellbeing Service, we will continue to support forces, but this isn't just about ticking boxes; it's about real changes in how we support our people. We're working on new strategies and tools, like a national health and wellbeing strategy and the Police Health Observatory, to make sure our officers and staff are physically and mentally prepared for the demands of policing. It's about creating a workplace where everyone feels supported and ready to face the challenges of the job.”
CEO of the College of Policing, Chief Constable Andy Marsh said: “I’m grateful to the tens of thousands of officers and staff who took the time to complete this survey and give us further clarity on where we must target our work to improve wellbeing. There is absolutely no doubt that they want to do their best for the public and are working incredibly hard in very challenging circumstances.
“To provide a high-quality service to our communities we must have energised staff who are supported well by their leaders. This is why the College of Policing’s work at the National Centre for Police Leadership focuses so much on developing people, so they provide inspiration, the time and support needed for others to succeed and understand the importance of wellbeing.
“The College’s National Police Wellbeing Service is doing good work in this area, but we are under no illusions about how some people are feeling and what more we need to do. We’ll redouble our efforts, working with chief officers and forces, to provide a supportive environment where staff feel well and are able to deliver to their full potential.”
So, what next?
Ultimately, we carried out the annual survey and commission the summary of research because it is important that our work is focused on what those who are doing the job every day are telling us they need.
The findings will be used to evidence the development of the work of the National Police Wellbeing Service and College of Policing and in addition, there is an expectation that forces will also address the key themes locally and pick this up with their staff associations as they continue to develop their local wellbeing offer.
Since our last annual survey, we have seen the introduction of the Police Covenant which is already influencing positive improvements in areas such as Occupational Health, the recruitment of a Chief Medical Officer for policing, mental health support for new recruits and a much more robust offer to support families and those who retire from the service.
In addition to this, there are some significant pieces of work in development including a national health and wellbeing strategy, the Police Health Observatory, enhanced and advance occupational health standards and forthcoming Authorised Professional Practice. This is in addition to a multitude of resources, support and signposting being made available directly to officers and staff through this website.
We’ll continue to work closely with others who are there to provide support, such as the Police Federation, Superintendents’ Association, unions, staff associations and charities to make sure that we can enhance the support on offer.
We will continue to ask for the views of officers, staff and volunteers and work with wellbeing leads in every force to ensure that we have sight of the issues that matter the most.
There will be another national survey in Spring 2024 so that we can continually assess if and how things are changing for officers and staff to ensure we continue to offer the most relevant services and support.
Access the reports
National Wellbeing Survey 2023 findings
Summary of research in policing findings