CONTENTS


Editor-in-chief: Stavan Desai The Police Federation Federation House


Highbury Drive, Leatherhead Surrey KT22 7UY 01372 35200


Reporters: Sophie Garrod Izaak Southwood Anesu Mlauzi Paul Hurst


Design & Production: PFEW Communications Dept.


Advertising: Alison Lambert


PFEW Sponsorship Manager 01372 352118 07931 224313


alison.lambert@polfed.org


Cover image: Shutterstock


View online: www.polfed.org/police-mag


Every care is taken to ensure that advertisements are accepted only from bona fide advertisers. The Police Federation cannot accept any liability for losses incurred by any person as a result of a default on the part of an advertiser. The views expressed within the magazine are not necessarily the views of the National Board of the Police Federation of England and Wales. © The Police Federation 2026. Reproduction strictly prohibited unless by prior arrangement and formal consent of the publisher.


THE POLICE FEDERATION OF ENGLAND AND WALES APRIL 2026


POLICE HANDSOFF


OUR RESTDAYS


Pay award 2026 Commit or collapse


Dorset’s best Meet the Sgt. Of the Year


Lookback 60 years of killing the death penalty


Pensions Answering your questions


MAIN FEATURE


04 Police pay Min. 7% rise p.a. for three years


NEWS


06 Copped Enough Keep your hands off our rest days


08 Scant records Forces unaware of officers’ working time


11 POLICE podcast What’s coming up?


11 Dates for the diary Upcoming events and webinars


12 Tribute The attack that changed gun-control laws


14 Accolades


Meet Dorset’s Sgt. of the Year 16 Health and Safety


Are radio earpieces safe for ears? 38 Police rugby England and Ireland set to clash 03 | POLICE | APRIL | 2026 04 36 14 FEATURES


18 Women in policing The power of representation


22 Reps spotlight Welfare, fairness and transparency 24 Lookback


Sixty years of death penalty’s abolishment


28 Guest column White paper and neighbourhood policing


32 Charity Walking 4,000 kms. for mental health


36 Mortgage Advice Insights from Quick Mortgages


38 Police pension Your questions answered


INSIDE...


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