‘Poster girl’ police officer Laura Beal who quit force with scathing resignation letter claims cops talk about striking ‘all the time’

A POLICE officer poster girl has claimed that hard-working cops would go on strike if they could and discuss doing so "all the time" due to a lack of resources.

PC Laura Beal yesterday quit Devon and Cornwall Police after working with the force for 13 years, saying in an emotional Facebook post that the conditions of the job "kills me both physically and mentally".

5

Laura made her resignation letter, addressed to the force's chief constable Shaun Sawyer, public.

In it, she said that the pressures of her role had left her suffering from stress, depression and anxiety, and the post quickly went viral.

She wrote: "Your staff are not coping, and are suffering because there is no one looking out for them.

"Please take it from someone who has been personally affected and has been so low she has wondered what the point of it all is, and only through her friends and family been able to see that there is more to life than policing."

5

Today she appeared on ITV's This Morning, further laying out her concerns about the future of policing if cuts and a lack of staffing continues.

She said: "We are in a state where people are so uneasy... and you need to look after the people.

"We can't strike.. but when you are out there of course we are going to keep the wheel on, because people's lives are at risk and [bosses] definitely exploit that."

Mrs Beal was then asked if she and her colleagues would have gone on strike, if they could.

"Yes, wow yes," she said.

"That conversation is had all the time."

Cops in Britain are banned from going on strike, as set out in the Police Act 1996, as they are deemed an essential service.

5

5

Laura, who followed her father into policing, joining in 2004, said in her post that the "total lack of support both governmental and from the Chief Officer Group has made me lose all faith in the job I loved".

In the letter she explained that she was expected to go on patrol as a response officer covering mid-Devon with just one other officer most days.

"This is meant to be adequate staffing and safe," she wrote.

"How this can be acceptable is beyond belief. I have always worked to the best of my ability as I had pride in what I did. This however is not possible any more."

She added: "I am leaving before this job kills me both physically and mentally.

"I am not only sad because I see what is potentially an amazing career get ruined by hypocrisy and lack of funding; but also because I know I am not the only one going through this and not everyone that needs the help and support will be as lucky as I am to be able to leave."

5

Laura called on the chief constable to make the situation better for her colleagues, saying she wanted "so much for their lives to get better".

"It is your responsibility to make this right; the front line needs more officers, leadership and managerial support," she said.
In response Chief Superintendent Jim Colwell, Devon Commander, said: “I am aware of PC Laura Beal’s resignation and am sympathetic to the reasons she gives for leaving the Force. I would like to formally thank PC Beal for her loyal service, hearing of an officer resigning is sad, particularly when this is done so publicly.

“We do hear concerns from officers and staff and recognise where they are feeling the strain. We acknowledge that these are issues undoubtedly have an impact on staff well-being.

“Staff wellness is a priority for the Force and we have a series of initiatives in place to assist such as a peer support network, a counselling service and we have implemented the Blue Light programme developed by mental health charity Mind, aimed at emergency services staff.

"We are a supportive Force and will always assist an officer needing help or guidance.”

Laura became a 'poster girl' for the force back in 2010 - featuring in the "You matter, we care" campaign.

She will start her own business, Naturally Pawsome Grooming, in March.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368