Women officers set to abandon police

Officers said a lack of opportunities for flexible working and a belief that the force does not take into account women’s particular circumstances after having children had contributed to the ill-feeling among staff.

The Independent Police Commission, led by former Metropolitan police commissioner Lord Stevens, has published the findings as it carries out an investigation into the future of policing.

Some 40 per cent of female officers said they had given serious thought to leaving their jobs, while more than three quarters (76 per cent) were pessimistic about the future of the police force.

Childcare was identified as a “significant” concern, while most officers said they believed the police service will be even less flexible in the future in accommodating working women.

The survey of 3,410 female police officers in England and Wales was carried out with the help of the Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers.

One female officer, with 22 years of service, said: “Morale is the lowest I have ever known. The changes in our force are ill-conceived.

“I have worked in CID for over 15 years but due to lack of front-line recruitment we are having to back-fill any uniform vacancies. Do I feel my experience is valued? Absolutely not! I wish I could leave tomorrow.”

Lord Stevens was appointed to chair the independent review into the future of policing by Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper last year. Its final report will be published next March.

Lord Stevens said: “We have learnt that morale is a key issue facing our police service today.”