Officer retention: a comparative analysis of online company reviews by Australian and English police officers

Across the globe, police organisations face a staffing challenge. Using 254 online company reviews downloaded from an international online employment site, a comparative analysis of Australian and English police officers’ experiences of employment was conducted. Written by current and former employees, the information contained within the reviews outlines positive and negative aspects of employment. The findings indicate that challenges affecting retention are shared across international contexts and are influenced by several factors. New findings suggest that officers’ employment is highly affected by intensified political pressures and that lack of officer retention is a progressive process built by tension over time. The study upholds the premise that police organisations across the globe must recognise the importance and relevance of content within online company reviews and, accordingly, utilise it to understand why officers leave the profession.