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Police quit rate soars
Nicola Dowling
11/ 7/2007

POLICE resignations increased by more than 300 per cent in Greater Manchester in four years, according to Home Office figures.

But bosses at GMP say the growing trend in the number of officers quitting has been reversed in the last year.

Figures issued by the government show only 43 people resigned from GMP in 2002/03 - and the figure rose to 186 in the year 2005/06.

The numbers do not include retirements and transfers.

The Police Federation, which represents lower-ranking officers, claimed many were quitting the force due to a Home Office-fuelled performance figures culture, which has resulted in `policing by numbers' rather than serving the public.

The figures, referred to by Police Minister Tony McNulty in the Commons, were taken from the Home Office Statistical Bulletin and only go up to the year 2005/06.

According to GMP, the figure for the most recent year 2006/07 has fallen back to 144.

Most county forces have seen a rise in the number resigning between 2002 and 2006. But the rise in Great Manchester is steeper than in comparable areas such as the West Midlands, with 53 per cent more officers leaving during the same period; West Yorkshire with a 161 per cent rise and Merseyside with a 277 per cent rise.

The Metropolitan Police bucked the general trend with a 25 per cent drop in the number of people leaving.

GMP's Andrew Marston said: "The number of officers resigning is similar to what could be predicted.

"However, we are seeing more movement between forces, both within Britain and overseas. This has been increasing for a number of years."

Gordon Johnson, of the Police Federation, said some officers felt demoralised by the performance figures culture, which `has left some feeling that they are having to meet targets in preference to performing a service to the community'.

According to Home Office transfer figures, 16 people moved forces in 2002/3; 52 the year after; 42 in 2004/5 and 70 in 2005/6. Retirement figures revealed 57 retired in 2002/3; 140 in 2003/4; 179 in 2004/5 and 211 in 2005/6.

unsuprising.

and so they'll train more- only attracting a lower quality of candidate, due to the better people being put off, and then training them within the culture of "target driven policing"

and the standard will fall further still.

The Metropolitan Police bucked the general trend with a 25 per cent drop in the number of people leaving.

The government have turned them into political stooges.

Their leadership are too weak.

The calibre will fall and we'll end up with a force of glorified traffic wardens.

There is a saying 'tell me how I'll be measured and I'll tell you I'll perform' This is exactly what's happened with the police.

They are being measured on the wrong things!

The government have turned them into political stooges.

Their leadership are too weak.

The calibre will fall and we'll end up with a force of glorified traffic wardens.

There is a saying 'tell me how I'll be measured and I'll tell you I'll perform' This is exactly what's happened with the police.

They are being measured on the wrong things!