NEWS
taking on secondary employment. “Throughout, there was no welfare support,” he recalled. “My designated welfare officer was just another sergeant I knew personally — not trained, just a friend. The force ignored medical advice that I needed structure and work. They dragged things out for over two years. Their processes were inconsistent, unlawful, and damaging. “Without my new employer’s support
and occupational health, I don’t believe I’d still be here. They offered the structure, care, and compassion that policing didn’t.” The bereaved former wife of a police officer who took his own life earlier this year after being arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office – an offence he strongly denied – said officers were being “ostracised and thrown to the wolves”. “He was failed massively by the police,”
she told Channel 4 News. “The police broke him. I’ve never ever seen anybody that low. The shame and embarrassment was massive. I’m not saying don’t carry out investigations. I’m saying: do it respectfully. Stop going in with this gung- ho, heavy- handed approach. “Since we lost him, there’s been several more officers lost through suicide and children left without their dads. That can’t continue.”
Research shows significant variation
across forces in how misconduct and performance investigations are supported. Some have developed robust, supportive policies with welfare SPOCs in place, while others provide no formal structures,
creating inconsistent levels of support. To address this, PFEW argues every force should have a mandatory welfare and risk assessment process as a baseline standard. A proposed guidance document, created by members of the National Board, has been shared to help all forces adopt consistent policies. Progress is ongoing with NPCC conduct and wellbeing leads, with the aim of securing College of Policing endorsement so the standard becomes best practice across policing. While currently recognised only as “good practice” within draft NPCC Authorised Professional Practice, PFEW national leads remain committed to influencing its adoption as a minimum requirement in all forces. PFEW Deputy National Secretary and Conduct and Performance Lead Mel Warnes said: “One of the most stressful periods in an officer’s career can be going through misconduct or performance proceedings. We have seen officers, and their families placed in limbo for years while investigations drag on. The damage to their mental and physical health is profound – and it continues long after the case has concluded. “Our Freedom of Information requests show that more than half of officers who died by suicide, or attempted suicide, were under investigation at the time. This is a tragedy that policing must confront. “Yet forces have no legal responsibility
to record these deaths, let alone prevent them. That has to change. We need stronger, standardised welfare and risk assessments from day one of an
investigation, continuing right through to after the outcome. It is unacceptable the level of care an officer receives depends on which force employs them. “Those who volunteer as welfare officers also need proper training and continuous professional development in areas such as mental health first aid and trauma management. Officers deserve no less. “Whether it is the cumulative toll of trauma or the stress of prolonged investigations, too many officers are being failed. PFEW will continue to press for mandatory standards, stronger support, and real change to protect the protectors.”
IF YOUR LIFE IS AT RISK RIGHT NOW:
• Call 999 for an ambulance • Go straight to A&E, if you can • Call your local crisis team, if you have their number
• If you can’t do this by yourself, ask someone to help you
If you need help, speak to someone today:
• Call the Samaritans on 116 123 • Call the Mental Health Crisis Line for policing on 0300 131 2789
• Text SHOUT to 85258 – a free, 24/7, confidential mental health text support service
10 | POLICE | OCTOBER | 2025
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