A staggering number of police officers are currently suspended on full pay due to allegations of misconduct, creating a significant financial burden of £2.6 million per month. With 750 officers on so-called ‘gardening leave,’ the weekly wage bill has soared to approximately £650,000.
Allegations Behind the Suspension Surge
The accusations against these law enforcers are serious, ranging from sexual misconduct to corruption and brutality. This year’s figure marks a 5% increase from the 711 suspensions recorded last year and is more than triple the 225 officers suspended in 2022.
High-Profile Cases Highlighting the Problem
Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner Matt Twist has expressed frustration over the expensive and prolonged disciplinary processes within the force. A notorious example is Commander Julian Bennett, suspended in 2020 for refusing to take a mandatory drug test. Although initially dismissed in 2023, the case dragged on due to appeals, resulting in astronomical costs.
Another example includes the case of Wayne Couzens, the Met firearms officer convicted for the horrific kidnapping, rape, and murder of Sarah Everard. Shockingly, Couzens remained on a full salary of £33,000 annually until his plea of guilty in July 2021.
The Financial Toll of Delayed Disciplinary Procedures
Officers suspended during lengthy investigations are entitled to their full salaries, with some cases dragging on for years. Former Detective Inspector Warren Arter, for instance, earned £400,000 while under suspension for seven years before being dismissed. Notably, this issue is not limited to low-ranking constables—senior officials, such as Devon and Cornwall Police’s Chief Constable Will Kerr, have also been embroiled in prolonged suspensions. Kerr, suspended after allegations of sexual assault (from which he was eventually cleared), retired following a two-year suspension.
When adding pension and National Insurance contributions, the financial toll of each case rises to approximately £45,000. Analysts estimate last year’s total suspension costs reached a staggering £33.8 million.
Suspensions Across Police Forces
While the Met Police leads with 155 suspended officers (145 from the Met and 10 from the City of London Police), other forces are also grappling with absentee costs. Greater Manchester, for example, has 63 officers suspended; West Midlands counts 56, West Yorkshire has 33, Essex tallies at 27, and Kent reports 25.
Public and Official Outrage
Londoners have reportedly voiced outrage over taxpayer funds used to pay officers on suspension without working. “This should have been a simple matter,” Assistant Commissioner Twist stated, echoing public sentiment on the waste of resources.
Calls for reforms to streamline the disciplinary and appeal processes are growing louder. Devon and Cornwall Police’s former Chief Constable, Will Kerr, highlighted the need for a fair, timely, and proportionate accountability system, lamenting his own difficult experience.
Unless significant reforms are enacted, the rising costs and inefficiencies will continue to weigh heavily on taxpayers and undermine public trust in law enforcement institutions.
