‘Living hand to mouth’: Record number of police officers turning to food banks

[Social Media]

 

The plight of police officers grappling with food insecurity has reached alarming levels, with a record number resorting to food banks to make ends meet. As financial pressures mount and wages stagnate, the crisis of food poverty among law enforcement personnel has emerged as a stark reality.

 

Worried officers have floated the idea of establishing food banks specifically tailored for police recruits, underscoring the severity of the situation. A survey of over 6,000 serving officers revealed that one in five officers is forced to skip meals to cope with financial strains, with nearly 10 percent resorting to food banks in the past year alone.

 

The dire financial situation facing police officers is exacerbated by meager salaries, with the average police constable in England and Wales earning just £23,556 upon joining the force. This figure pales in comparison to the earnings of other professions, such as newly qualified nurses, further exacerbating the disparity.

 

The impact of this financial hardship is palpable, with many officers struggling to afford basic necessities such as meals and transportation. Mattheu, a 49-year-old police constable working for the Metropolitan Police, exemplifies the challenges faced by frontline officers. Despite working six days a week, Mattheu finds himself unable to afford adequate meals and is perpetually teetering on the brink of financial instability.

 

Moreover, the corrosive effect of low wages and financial stress on morale cannot be overstated. The prevalence of scandals involving police officers, coupled with the relentless demands of frontline policing, has taken a toll on morale. Instances of police misconduct, such as the tragic case of Sarah Everard, perpetrated by a Met officer, further exacerbate the sense of disillusionment among officers.

 

The revelations about the dire financial straits facing police officers underscore the urgent need for systemic reform. Organizations such as Metfriendly and the Police Federation have sounded the alarm, calling for increased support and recognition of the critical role played by law enforcement personnel.

 

As calls for reform grow louder, it is imperative that policymakers and stakeholders take decisive action to address the root causes of police food poverty. Failure to do so not only jeopardizes the well-being of officers and their families but also undermines the integrity and effectiveness of law enforcement agencies as a whole.

 

31.03.24

Source

 

[Chomper Higgot]

No surprises at all.

 

The fact millions of people in the UK are relying on food banks for basic food needs has been discussed at length on this forum a number of times.

 

Brace for the usual ‘blame the poor for being poor’ comments.

 

 

 

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No surprises at all.

 

The fact millions of people in the UK are relying on food banks for basic food needs has been discussed at length on this forum a number of times.

 

Brace for the usual ‘blame the poor for being poor’ comments.

 

 

 

But in the UK it is a toss up between food and a Smartphone, as the Smartphone is glued to their hand, it wins every time..................😝

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, transam said:

But in the UK it is a toss up between food and a Smartphone, as the Smartphone is glued to their hand, it wins every time..................😝

It took five minutes for the predicted nonsense to show up.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It took five minutes for the predicted nonsense to show up.

Show up to a blind man................🤗

[Tug]

I donno much about this but it’s important to pay your first responders a living salary and if not it’s a recipe for corruption!

[Lucky Bones]

32 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It took five minutes for the predicted nonsense to show up.

Agree with Transam here.

A smartphone can do so much more than foodbanks or charity.

[Chomper Higgot]

1 minute ago, Lucky Bones said:

Agree with Transam here.

A smartphone can do so much more than foodbanks or charity.

No mention of mobile phones in the OP.

 

It might be something Transam dreamed up.

 

[Trippy]

I thought England was a rich country, why don't they pay the police well?

[Dolf]

Is UK food 200 pounds per sandwich? Story makes no sense.

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

No mention of mobile phones in the OP.

 

It might be something Transam dreamed up.

 

You brought up the UK, sunbeam, not me..........😉................🤭

[Dolf]

https://www.nimblefins.co.uk/average-uk-household-cost-food

 

Does not look expensive.

[Denim]

4 minutes ago, Trippy said:

I thought England was a rich country, why don't they pay the police well?

 

Because they waste money on other things.

[Dolf]

Buy 2 loafs of bread plus canned tuna and peanut butter and cheese.

 

Live on 25 pounds a week

[transam]

My UK chum is a basic cop of 25 years, his wife works too, they have a house, they have a mobile home at the seaside, he has a Triumph Stag fun ride as well as a grocery getter.

Now I don't think they are starving, I would have heard about it........😛........🤭

[transam]

2 minutes ago, Dolf said:

Buy 2 loafs of bread plus canned tuna and peanut butter and cheese.

 

Live on 25 pounds a week

Are you now at the meeting place for Lou, it's 11.50...................?  

[Chomper Higgot]

8 minutes ago, transam said:

You brought up the UK, sunbeam, not me..........😉................🤭

You did read the OP?

[transam]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

You did read the OP?

Yes, you went off on a tangent to advertise foodbanks and the UK starving.

 

Isn't it strange that near every shopping area has a selection of takeaways with home deliveries in the UK, why is that, how can the starving afford it, how do these outlets prosper.............?

 

Where have the UK garden veggy patches gone, oh, not needed, we can spend our dole money at Sainsbury's and Tesco, waaaaaaaaaay different to when I was a kid, no smartphones and watch the pennies to live...........🤗

[sqwakvfr]

Well, this is not new.  About 40 years ago the starting pay for many police department in the southeast part of the US was about $18,000.  The Miami Police Department and the New Orleans Police starting pay was about $18,000.  This led too any cases of some officers having to take second jobs.  Some hotels and motels in New Orleans would have uniformed police officers at the front desk at night.  This can also lead to poor recruiting, poor retention and in some cases corruption.  I cannot imagine living anywhere near London and making under 30,000 per year.  

 

In major US cities the starting pay for police officers is at least $50K.  This is not counting benefits and now in some cases generous housing allowance. 

[freeworld]

When we were poor

 

 

[sqwakvfr]

14 minutes ago, transam said:

My UK chum is a basic cop of 25 years, his wife works too, they have a house, they have a mobile home at the seaside, he has a Triumph Stag fun ride as well as a grocery getter.

Now I don't think they are starving, I would have heard about it........😛........🤭

25 years probably means he is at the highest pay rate.  At 20 years I was at the highest pay rate for my old department.  By that time I had longevity step raise, maximum vacation and sick time (which I could convert some into cash) and my retirement pay was now at a very good rate.  I beleive the intent of the article was focused on new or newer officers.

[Kinnock]

48 minutes ago, Tug said:

I donno much about this but it’s important to pay your first responders a living salary and if not it’s a recipe for corruption!

UK Police are not first responders.  You'd be lucky if they ever respond, unless you drive at 23 mph in the endless 20 mph zones.

 

I agree that ambulance and fire services deserve a better wage level, but UK police should be paid less based on their value and performance.

[impulse]

5 hours ago, Social Media said:

The dire financial situation facing police officers is exacerbated by meager salaries, with the average police constable in England and Wales earning just £23,556 upon joining the force.

 

Wow.  That's got to attract the best and the brightest.  Is that a provisional wage that gets boosted after a probationary period, or does it increase in ridiculously small percentages each year?  And is it even possible to live on that in most of the UK, especially urban areas?

Thailand's a perfect example of what happens when you don't pay your police a living wage.  And not in a good way...

 

[TroubleandGrumpy]

Judging by the numpties who are in management positions in the UK police, I would say it has been several decades since the 'best and brightest' became Policemen. I remember seeing a story decades ago talking about how the polcie were retiring in record numbers as their 'power' and pay was constantly being reduced - nothing was done about it and now the Policeforce is full of liberal feminist woke numb/no nuts. 

[transam]

2 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

25 years probably means he is at the highest pay rate.  At 20 years I was at the highest pay rate for my old department.  By that time I had longevity step raise, maximum vacation and sick time (which I could convert some into cash) and my retirement pay was now at a very good rate.  I beleive the intent of the article was focused on new or newer officers.

We all had to start somewhere, what ever our vocation. 🤗

[transam]

1 minute ago, Kinnock said:

UK Police are not first responders.  You'd be lucky if they ever respond, unless you drive at 23 mph in the endless 20 mph zones.

 

I agree that ambulance and fire services deserve a better wage level, but UK police should be paid less based on their value and performance.

What a stupid post, you have no idea...........

[Liverpool Lou]

27 minutes ago, Dolf said:

Is UK food 200 pounds per sandwich? Story makes no sense.

Makes a lot more sense than your comment does.

[Rimmer]

Troll meme and reply has been removed

[connda]

6 hours ago, Social Media said:

The dire financial situation facing police officers is exacerbated by meager salaries, with the average police constable in England and Wales earning just £23,556 upon joining the force.

How will the billionaire-class get by if the commoner-classes make a livable wage?  All of their money should be hoovered up by Larry Fink and friends and the commoner-rentees can just eat flour mixed with grass. 

[connda]

4 minutes ago, connda said:

How will the billionaire-class get by if the commoner-classes make a livable wage?  All of their money should be hoovered up by Larry Fink and friends and the commoner-rentees can just eat flour mixed with grass. 

Study history.  It works until it doesn't.  Liberté, égalité, fraternité.

 

Edited March 31 by connda