Resignations at the Metropolitan Police, the country’s biggest force, jumped from 337 in 2011-12 to 626 in 2015-16

Police officers are quitting in record numbers amid soaring stress and rising demands following an era of austerity, figures obtained by The Times reveal.

A number of forces in England and Wales have seen resignations more than double since 2011, raising further concerns about a brain drain and their ability to deal with a growing workload.

Resignations at the Metropolitan Police, the country’s biggest force, jumped from 337 in 2011-12 to 626 in 2015-16, according to figures obtained through a freedom of information (FoI) request.

During the same period resignations more than doubled at both Avon and Somerset Constabulary and Northumbria police, which secured the conviction of a grooming gang this week.

At Thames Valley resignations rose from 56 in 2011-12 to 100 in 2015-16.