ONS survey shows rise in domestic abuse as police warn over workload

An Office for National Statistics survey suggests a significant rise in domestic abuse in England and Wales, and the Police Federation has warned that police officers are being pushed beyond sustainable workloads.

The survey found that nearly 10% of people aged 16 or over had experienced domestic abuse in the year to March. That was up by just under 8% on the year before. The ONS said changes to how the survey is carried out might account for some of the rise, but it believed the increase was genuine and significant.

The same survey also recorded an 11% rise in fraud, to more than 4.5 million cases in the year to June. Incidents of computer misuse rose by almost a quarter to more than 800,000.

The Police Federation of England and Wales declared a public health emergency within policing. It cited unsustainable workloads and increased exposure to trauma. Its pay and morale survey found that:

• two-thirds of officers said fatigue had made it difficult to carry out their duties
• more than three-quarters said exhaustion had affected their family or social life
• the lowest points are generally reached between three and five years into a policing career, when fatigue and anxiety are at their worst
• two-thirds of all police resignations happen at this time

The federation said attrition rates were going through the roof and that very experienced officers had had enough. It said they were laying their pensions aside and walking out the door.

The Home Office acknowledged the challenging and traumatic situations often faced by police officers. It said it had invested an additional £2.4 million this year in psychological support and mental health services. The Police Federation wants an independent investigation into the health and wellbeing of police officers during their first five years of service.