Thousands of police officers across England and Wales are increasingly taking on second jobs to make ends meet, new data reveals. Figures obtained by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) through a Freedom of Information request show that over 4,000 officers were approved to work secondary employment in 2024, double the number recorded in 2019.
The Federation attributes this sharp rise directly to a worsening pay crisis within the police force. Since 2010, police officers’ real-terms pay has fallen by 21%, with starting salaries stuck at around £29,000. Even after six years of service, officers can earn up to £10,000 less than nurses or teachers with similar experience.
Brian Booth, Deputy National Chair of the Police Federation, expressed serious concern over the issue. “Police officers are overworked, underpaid and under threat. They should not have to finish a shift protecting the public and then work a second job just to pay their bills,” he said. “The impact on their family life or rest and recovery time is scary to think about, but this is a damning indictment of how far police pay has been allowed to fall by successive governments.”
Officers in the most expensive regions to live are among those most affected. Police forces in Essex, Kent, Hampshire, Hertfordshire and Surrey have all reported significant increases in the number of officers approved for secondary jobs.
Notably, Dyfed-Powys saw a staggering 3,088% increase, from just nine officers in 2019 to 287 in 2024. Essex rose by 500%, Cleveland by 421%, and Hampshire by 348% in the same period.
The true scale of the problem may be even greater, as nine police forces, including the Metropolitan Police, the UK’s largest force, declined to provide data on second job approvals.
This rising trend highlights the urgent need for pay restoration and stronger support from Chief Constables to address the growing strain on officers juggling dual roles to make ends meet.
