The London Assembly has heard concerns from the Metropolitan Police Federation

THE Metropolitan Police is struggling to keep police officers due to the cost of living in the capital, the leader of the force’s rank-and-file officers has told the London Assembly.

Paula Dodds, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, told the Assembly’s police and crime committee last week that officers were leaving for cheaper parts of the country or quitting policing altogether.

“In the last 12 months, according to these figures, we had 2,463 officers leave and only recruited 665,” she said.

Ms Dodds said housing costs were driving officers out of the capital. “A lot of officers have transferred out for a better life in places like Devon, Cornwall, and Kent,” she said. “Even though they lose money in the London allowances, what they gain is being able to afford property and a better work-life balance.”

She also blamed pension reforms that mean officers now work until 60. “It is no longer seen as a 30-year career because, with the pension changes, it simply is not,” she said. “Effectively, you are asking an 18-year-old to join the police for 42 years until they can retire.”

Asked why experienced officers quit, she said: “I think losing experienced officers is simply the fear of having a complaint, being dismissed, and not being able to pay a mortgage.”

The Police Federation’s survey of Met officers this summer found 34 per cent intended to resign within two years or as soon as they could, against 21 per cent nationally.

London’s police force has cut 3,300 officers and staff in two years and could lose around 1,000 more posts this year as it tries to close a £100 million funding gap.

Matt Cane, the federation’s general secretary, said experienced officers were also leaving sooner than was once expected.

He told the committee that “in 2019, the average length of service on leaving the force was 16.94 years, and in 2024, it has gone down to 12.32 [years]”, adding: “The MPS is so cut to the bone now that I do not think it can lose any more officers,” Mr Cane said.

A L ondon Assembly investigation into Met recruitment and retention is currently being led by Conservative member Emma Best.