‘A Year of Hell’: A Police Officer Shares How the System Let Them Down
Shocking Statistics and a Harrowing Personal Account Reveal a Genuine Crisis in UK Policing
Be under no illusion: policing in the UK is in crisis. Both seasoned veterans and fresh recruits are abandoning their roles at an alarming rate. Morale has hit rock bottom, and, as you will see below, fewer people than ever are stepping forward to join the ranks. A nation reveals much about its character by the way it treats its emergency services—the brave men and women who put their lives on the line to ensure our safety.
So what's happening to the very thin blue line that protects us?
A recent story shared on social media offers a heartbreaking glimpse into just one of the many reasons behind this staggering exodus. When coupled with grim statistics and broader trends, the message is unmistakable: the UK's policing system is in crisis, leaving law-abiding taxpayers like you and me to face the harsh reality of dialling 999 for help—only to find there's no one left to respond.
"I Was Investigated for Gross Misconduct": A Personal Account
The post, shared by an anonymous police officer on X, tells of a year-long ordeal that began with a vague accusation and ended with a cleared name, but not without lasting damage. Here's their story in their own words:
"At the beginning of a year, I was told there was fact-finding. In spring, I was notified that it was being referred to as Gross Misconduct but not knowing what it was for. Knowing you're under investigation for GM for months and not knowing what for caused me to experience a serious level of anxiety for the first time in my life. However, part of me could not even think of something worthy of that level of misconduct, which was a good thing.
Although I knew I had done nothing wrong, I told my family and close friends that I was under investigation for something but that I had no idea what it was for. I was looking for external jobs and preparing myself mentally to leave the only job I've ever wanted to do.
Finally, at the end of the year, I was served a 163, which detailed the allegation accusing me of owning a social media account that insulted two members of police staff in a misogynistic way. I could only laugh with relief, knowing it had absolutely nothing to do with me. I was linked to the account in question as one of the victims stated they thought the person behind the account was me.
This person was someone I'd consider an online friend and, ironically, is an ambassador for an emergency service mental health charity (I won't reveal who). Further to this, the allegations were considered criminal as it was classed as Malicious Communications.
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So, due to ridiculous speculation and no digital investigation done beforehand, I was subject to a year of being investigated for a crime/account I had no involvement with. Needless to say, the digital investigation is complete and I've been found with no case to answer, but it's left me thinking if I want to be in an organisation that treats its employees this way.
The year was stagnant, with no progression allowed and blocks to my vetting/moves. I still love this job, but I have a new appreciation for those who have been through this process for malicious complaints of a much more serious nature and in some cases, several times. What a shame, though, that the one outlet I have on Twitter can't be trusted."
This story isn't just an isolated example; it's a snapshot of the systemic issues pushing many officers away from the profession they once loved. By subscribing to this newsletter, you'll gain a deeper understanding of the challenges facing our emergency services and the hidden stories behind the headlines. If you're new here, I invite you to explore my previous blogs—they're filled with eye-opening insights that might just change the way you view policing today.
The Numbers Don't Lie
Recent statistics paint a bleak picture for UK policing. Here are just a couple of examples:
Norfolk Police added 98 officers last year, but 74 left.
Cheshire Police added 139 officers last year, but 74 left.
In the last financial year, the Metropolitan Police added just 84 officers overall, with 1,465 joining but 1,365 leaving. 84 officers in a police force that has to police around 8 million.
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Additionally, the number of special constables and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) has experienced a truly staggering decline over the past decade. In 2013, nearly 20,000 special constables and over 15,000 PCSOs were serving their communities. By 2024, these figures have collapsed to fewer than 5,000 in each category—a catastrophic loss that has severely overburdened full-time officers. These vital support roles once provided a critical buffer, and their disappearance has left frontline officers stretched impossibly thin, forced to absorb responsibilities that were never meant to fall solely on their shoulders.
A blog that I published earlier this week shines a light on why many special constables no longer feel that doing the job for free (if at all) is worth the risk to their physical and mental health. You can read more about their experiences in my recent blog post.
But the challenges don't end there. The proportion of full-time equivalent (FTE) officers on long-term sick leave has reached unprecedented levels. As of March 2024, 2% of all officers in England and Wales were on long-term sick leave—double the rate from a decade ago. One officer I recently spoke with shared how months of unrelenting shifts, mountains upon mountains of paperwork coupled with the emotional toll of attending traumatic incidents, left them battling severe burnout.
This trend underscores the ever-growing strain on officers' mental and physical health, making the crisis in policing deeply personal and painfully real. For many officers, the fear of calling in sick stems from the possibility of being placed on a remedial action plan, which could lead to disciplinary action—all because their minds and bodies desperately need a break from the relentless pressures of the job.
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If you know a police officer who works on a Sexual Offences Investigation Team or one tasked with monitoring sex offenders released early from prison (there are tens of thousands of them), ask them about their workload the next time you speak to them. How many cases are they juggling? How many high-risk offenders who are under Sexual Harm Prevention Orders are they expected to monitor? Then ask them what those numbers should be. The answers will likely leave you shocked. These officers are suffering in silence, unable to voice their concerns publicly for fear of jeopardising their careers.
That's precisely why ESN Report exists—to give a voice to the men and women who are silenced by the very system they serve.
I know police officers on 999 response teams who have started their shifts alone in a parade room that should have been filled with 11 colleagues.
One officer, in a county I shall not name, was assigned the impossible task of policing an area with a population of approximately 35,000 people entirely on their own. The officer in question had been in the police less than 18 months, so was still a probationer. This stark contrast between the expected and actual staffing levels vividly illustrates the immense strain and impossible expectations placed on officers today. Again, if you do not believe me, then ask your friend or family member who works on a 999 response team.
A Vicious Cycle of Burnout and Attrition
For those within the profession, like the officer who shared their story, the emotional and professional toll is often too much to bear. Internal and external investigations—sometimes based on weak or speculative evidence—drag on for months or even years, leaving careers in limbo. The strain isn't limited to the accused; the ripple effects touch their families, colleagues, and communities.
These investigations are just one piece of the puzzle. Officers are facing increasing workloads due to staffing shortages, compounded by the emotional toll of responding to high-stress, often traumatic incidents. With fewer colleagues to share the burden, burnout becomes inevitable.
Why Does This Matter?
The crisis in policing isn't just a problem for officers; it's a problem for society. Every officer who leaves represents a loss of experience, training, and community trust. Public safety depends on having a well-staffed, motivated police force. But how can that be achieved when the system itself is driving people away?
What Needs to Change?
To rebuild trust and morale within the police, several steps are essential:
Faster and Fairer Investigations: Prolonged uncertainty erodes trust and wellbeing. Investigations must be handled swiftly and based on substantive evidence (One for you, IOPC). This means relying on tangible, corroborated facts rather than conjecture or hearsay, and ensuring that all parties are treated with fairness and dignity throughout the process.
Mental Health Support: With rising sick leave among officers, robust mental health resources are non-negotiable. I am not talking here about a supervisor taking five minutes out of their busy schedule to ask a struggling team member, 'Are you okay?' If it is clear someone is struggling, it is your duty to step in and ensure they receive the support they need. Nobody should criticise you for prioritising the mental health of your overworked team.
Address Workload Issues: Staffing shortages need immediate attention to ease the burden on remaining officers. Some politicians continue to bury their heads in the sand. But this problem will not go away—and the consequences are dire. Response times will lengthen, communities will lose trust in law enforcement, and the mental and physical toll on officers will escalate further, driving even more of them to leave the force. Without immediate action, public safety itself hangs in the balance.
Leadership Accountability: Police leadership must take responsibility for their staff. If you are more interested in your next promotion than the welfare of your team, then you are in the wrong job. Perhaps a role in sales would suit better, where personal performance is the primary focus rather than the wellbeing of a team relying on your support.
Join the Conversation
The struggles of those in policing are too often overlooked. By supporting conversations like these, you're helping to shed light on the challenges officers face and advocating for meaningful change. If you've found this piece insightful, consider subscribing to our blog. Together, we can amplify these stories and work towards solutions that benefit both police officers and the communities they serve.
OPINION: Decades of Failed Leadership: The Real Culprit Behind Policing’s Collapse?
It’s a truth no politician wants to admit: the crisis in policing didn’t materialise overnight. Decades of failed leadership and shortsighted decisions have driven the profession into the ground. And while those at the top of the political food chain wring their hands and blame everyone but themselves, officers are left to grapple with the fallout of policies that have gutted resources, eroded morale, and left communities dangerously exposed.
In a country where recent riots have underscored how fragile public order truly is, you might think our leaders would take a hard look at the state of the thin blue line. Instead, the government’s response has been nothing short of catastrophic. They seem oblivious to the pressures facing the police, content to let an overburdened force bear the brunt of their incompetence.
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