Data Reveals Concerningly Low Promotion Success Rates

NEW data has revealed concerningly low promotion success rates for police officers aspiring to take the next steps in their careers.

Out of the 13% of officers who told the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) they went for promotion within the last year, just two per cent were successful, and five per cent were not, according to the latest Pay and Morale Survey.

Additionally, 6% of respondents revealed they were in the process of completing the promotion process, and 87% did not apply for a promotion in the last year.

One of the largest barriers officers seem to be facing is they do not have allocated time to study for the exams.

Zoe Wakefield, Chair of Hampshire Police Federation, said: “I think there’s lots of issues with the promotion process at every rank. It’s one of the things that we get asked about and we get issues highlighted to us more than probably any other process within the organisation. So many forces do it differently. It does become a very contentious process.

“We’re seeing very young in service officers doing acting sergeant roles, and we are getting people promoted with maybe only 4 years’ service. But I don’t think it’s a new issue. It’s been an issue for a long, long time. People don’t see it at a fair process.

Dave Bamber, Police Federation of England and Wales Professional Development lead, said: “There needs to be more rigorous enforcement on how people are selected and more standardisation  so we can move away from an organisation where those who are promoted are those particular senior officers may think fits their mould, as opposed to what fits a policing mould and the requirements.”

Furthermore, 31% of members nationally said they were ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their promotion prospects and 37% said they were ‘dissatisfied’ or ‘very dissatisfied’ with their opportunities for continuous professional development.