Police Officers Can't Afford Mortgages

Police housing in crisis? Now that's a surprise!

According to recent reports key public sector workers are priced out of the property market in two-thirds of UK towns.

Policemen, nurses, teachers, ambulance workers and firemen can no longer afford to buy an average priced house in 65% of towns, compared with just 24% five years ago, according to Britain's biggest mortgage lender Halifax.

Martin Ellis, chief economist at Halifax, said: "Key workers have been hit hard by the strength of the property market over the past five years. Now it is difficult for key workers to buy the average house not only in the south of England but also in significant parts of the Midlands, northern England, Wales and Scotland. "

"It is important that the Government continues to develop schemes to help key workers onto the property ladder and to ensure that these schemes are not confined to southern England. The presence of sufficient key workers is critical to the smooth functioning of life in our cities and towns."

For further reports click police can't afford home loans.

Now let's think about this for a second...... The very people responsible for keeping our towns and cities running can't afford to live in the majority of them. How are the Jones' going to feel when there's no one to clean their streets, teach their children, heal their sick, put out their fires or investigate crimes committed against them?

This follows reports last week that police pay increases of just 3% haven't been agreed by the government.

Hmmmm........ I wonder if this is in anyway connected to the decision to sell off affordable police rental housing for officers with families, and section house accomodation for single officers post Sheehy Report 1994?

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