The results of the National Police Workforce and Wellbeing Survey provide a stark reminder of the pressures facing officers, says South Wales Federation chair Phil Walker.
A record 55,602 people working in policing across England and Wales took part in the 2026 survey – equivalent to one in five of the workforce – making it the most comprehensive national policing wellbeing survey to date.
The findings paint a concerning picture of fatigue, burnout and excessive working hours, said Phil, with staff shortages and demand the main drivers of workload pressures.
More than half of respondents (56 per cent) said they regularly feel physically exhausted, while 45 per cent regularly feel burnt out.
Almost two thirds (63 per cent) said they regularly work beyond their contracted hours, rising to 72 per cent among police officers.
The survey also highlights significant concerns around the retention of experienced staff, with three in 10 respondents saying they may leave their force or policing altogether within the next year.
The main factors for those considering leaving were work-life balance, pay and benefits, and leadership.
Phil said the findings should act as a wake-up call for policy and decision makers.
Leadership
He said: “These figures should concern everyone who cares about the future of policing.
“Officers are telling us they are exhausted, working beyond their contracted hours and struggling to cope with workloads because of a lack of staff and increasing demand.
“That is not sustainable. We cannot continue to rely on officers simply working longer and harder to keep the service running.
“Excessive workloads should not become normalised. Instead they should be recognised as a workforce and wellbeing issue.”
Phil said the findings also underlined the importance of retaining officers.
He said “We have a relatively young and inexperienced police service because of the loss of experienced officers at one end and the drive to recruit new ones at the other.
“The fact that three in 10 indicated they may leave within the next year is very worrying.
Pressures
“Losing experienced officers because they are burnt out or no longer feel able to sustain the demands of the job will only increase the pressures on those who remain, and the recruitment and training of new officers requires a lot of investment in time and money.”
However, Phil said the survey contained positive results about the commitment of those working in policing.
Despite the pressures, 89 per cent of respondents said they felt they had the skills and experience needed to do their job, while 82 per cent said their team works together to improve the service they provide. Around three-quarters (75 per cent) said their line manager sets a positive example.
Phil said: “The commitment of our officers remains incredibly strong and is a key strength of policing.
“People believe in what they do, they take pride in serving their communities and they work exceptionally well with their colleagues.
“But commitment should not be exploited. Officers should not have to sacrifice their family life or their recovery time to make up for shortages elsewhere.
“Our members want to do their jobs well, but they need the resources and support to do so.”
Wellbeing service
The survey was run independently by Leapwise on behalf of Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service.
Oscar Kilo said the findings will feed into national wellbeing standards and work around issues including workload, fatigue, leadership and wellbeing support.
Andy Rhodes, Oscar Kilo service director, said: “Working in policing can be tough as it is, but if our officers and staff are telling us they are exhausted and burnt out, we need to listen and act now.
“Our people are telling us they want more time to recover, and we are treating that as a national call to action.
“Releasing the pressure on the workforce requires a national solution and the findings of this survey will feed directly into the national wellbeing standards work with the Chief Medical Officer for Policing, and into all our workstreams, including those around trauma, fatigue and early intervention.
“It is what the workforce has told us in these surveys in recent years, that has led to the increased investment in police wellbeing and the introduction of mandatory wellbeing standards – so that good support no longer depends on where someone works or what role they serve in.
“The results show that change is needed now, more than ever. Wellbeing is a legal, and moral duty of care, not a nice-to-have – it’s operational, not optional – and it’s our commitment as the National Police Wellbeing Service to help forces meet it.”
READ MORE: Free football tickets available for Federation members.