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 images: PFEW Communications


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 FEBRUARY 2026


POLICE TFIVE TESTS


WHITE PAPER MUST PASS


Dwindling workforce Latest data ring alarm bells


Mounted policing West Mids get horses after 25 years


Lookback From tripods to drones


HE POLICE REFORM


Guest column The indispensability of SCs


04


04 Police reform PFEW raises concerns


NEWS


06 Fed support A Fed rep sets example for others 08 Silent crisis


The unsettling reality of police suicides


11 Police assaults Stop hate crime against our officers


12 Falling numbers Thin blueline getting thinner


FEATURES 16 Tasers


Officers’ growing line of defence


18 Mounted policing Horses return to West Mids 22 Reps spotlight


City of London’s officer of the year


24 Lookback Crime photography over 150 years


28 Inclusive policing Why equality matters


30 Research Gaps in missing person investigations


32 Guest column Importance of Special Constabulary


36 Mortgage Advice Insights from Quick Mortgages


40 Dates for the diary Upcoming events


03 | POLICE | FEBRUARY | 2026 22 36 SPECIAL FEATURE INSIDE...


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