HAMPSHIRE Police officers say their domestic financial situation can have an impact on their ability to do their job, a new poll has shown.

Serve and Protect Credit Union, formerly the Police Credit Union, joined forces with Hampshire Police Federation to conduct a survey.

In total 645 police officers responded to the survey, with 46 per cent of respondents said they took a pay cut when they joined the police.

The survey also showed 88 per cent of respondents would not be able to cope financially with a change in circumstances, such as job loss, health issues, or divorce and that 58 per cent of respondents have considered a career outside of the police to improve their finances.

The data provided will help the federation to reduce the 43 per cent of officers who reported their financial resilience as having an effect on their day to day duties.

Hampshire Police Federation secretary Garry Smith said working with Serve and Protect means the federation can encourage officers to try and put money aside for life's bumps in the road.

Mr Smith said: “For many months prior to the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus our federation has worked with Serve and Protect looking to increase officers’ awareness around financial vulnerability, because officers are vulnerable to not having a financial backstop, not saving for the future, not being able to replace or fix a personal car or boiler.

“Sadly we are seeing a number of young in service officers struggling financially and coming to the Force Welfare Fund for support.

“In addition, we wanted to see the scale of the problem across our membership and what awareness people had around their financial set-up and what help they knew was available to them, and wanting them to be wary of payday loans.”

Of those who responded to the survey, 68 per cent said they would consider using the Hampshire Police Welfare Fund.

Mr Smith added: “This survey, in turn, assisted the direction of our Hampshire Police Force Welfare Fund and to help us understand the need of our colleagues.

“The data uncovered by the report is already shaping what we do and helping the force focus the minds of officers and their future financial wellbeing and resilience.”