Avon and Somerset Police Federation

21/11/2025

Providing officers with more support – especially when they are under investigation and at higher risk of su***de – is vital, the Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation has said.

Tom Gent was speaking while at the Police Federation of England and Wales’s 2025 Annual Conference, held on 18-19 November.

One of the most impactful sessions was ‘Code Zero: Policing’s Su***de Crisis’, where delegates heard from the widow of a police sergeant who died of su***de earlier this year.

The speakers concluded that forces need to step up the recording of the number of police su***des and provide welfare support to officers, particularly those under investigation, who are more likely to take their own lives.

PFEW has written to forces asking how many of their officers had died by su***de between 2022 and 2024. Two large forces are yet to respond, but so far PFEW has heard of 55 officers who took their own lives in this period, of whom 34 were under investigation. In addition, 120 had reported attempting to take their own lives, 71 of whom were under investigation.

Tom said: “The high number of police su***des is a tragic situation. There’s a really strong link with misconduct investigations, so welfare and compassion is very important when we're dealing with misconduct. And with the amount of trauma that officers are dealing with day to day, we really need that welfare support in place.”

Tom said that the Conference had been “really inspiring”, and that another good initiative was the Federation’s rolling out of the Victim and Witness Support Programme.

He said: “It’s a way to support victims, which we probably haven't been very good at in the past. And certainly in Avon and Somerset, it's something we really want to focus on over the next year.”

Tom continued: “We've got 10 Avon and Somerset Fed Reps here, including me. It’s been good to see some of the wider issues: things we're campaigning for and pushing Government on, around reporting for su***de, influencing police reform and some more long-term, strategic things as well."

Delegates at the PFEW Annual Conference voted to introduce a £2 per month increase in member subscriptions from 1 January 2026. See more on what the increase will deliver here: polfed.org/news/latest-news/2025/2026-subscription-changes-confirmed-following-conference-vote/

20/11/2025

Devastating news as it has been announced that an Essex Police Officer died on duty yesterday.

The officer was responding to an emergency when a collision on the A12 took place on the stretch of road near Ingatestone at around 12.25pm on (Wednesday 19 November).

Sadly the officer - who has not been named at this stage - died at the scene.

Steve Martin, Chair of Essex Police Federation, said: "This is heartbreaking news and the thoughts of all officers are with our close colleague's family, friends and colleagues at this time.

"Policing is a profession that comes with risk every day and this incident is a saddening example of the dangers we face on duty.

"If any officers need any assistance then they should contact the Federation and we will support them as best we can."

Chief Constable Ben-Julian Harrington said: “My thoughts and prayers, and those of the entire Essex Police family, are with the officer’s family and friends.

“I want to pay tribute to our professional and courageous colleague. He was a dedicated professional who died doing his job – protecting and serving the people of Essex. I will always be grateful for his service.

“We are supporting the officer’s colleagues and his family at this extremely difficult time."

19/11/2025

Forces need to step up to record the numbers of police su***des and provide welfare support to officers, particularly those who are under investigation, the Police Federation of England and Wales Annual Conference heard.

In the session, ‘Code Zero: Policing’s Su***de Crisis’, delegates heard from PFEW national Health & Wellbeing Leads Richie Murray and Paul Williams, and Hampshire Police Federation Chair Spencer Wragg, who spearheads the STEP (Su***de Trauma Education Prevention) campaign.

Tragically the conference was told there have been at least 10 su***des of police officers and staff around the country this year.

Richie said he wrote to all Federation branches asking how many of their officers had died by su***de between 2022 and 2024. Two large forces are yet to respond, but so far PFEW has been told about 55 officers who took their own lives in this period, of whom 34 were under investigation. In addition, 120 had reported attempting to take their own lives, 71 of whom were under investigation.

Richie said: “There is a huge causal link between officer su***des and investigations. And I think everybody in this room will say investigations are taking too long, and that it has to have an effect.”

Paul agreed, saying: “We arrest criminals, we send them through the Criminal Justice System. We prosecute, they go to court, they serve a sentence, potentially a prison sentence. Now that criminal could be released back on the street a lot quicker than a police officer who's been served a basic misconduct form and put under investigation by their own force.”

In addition, forces should carry out a documented basic risk assessment on misconduct investigations and provide the officer with wraparound care, Paul said: “Allocating a welfare officer is sometimes just not good enough.”

Paul said that there needed to be “common minimum standards across the country”. He continued: “We heard yesterday that there's a postcode lottery of wellbeing in forces: 43 different Chiefs, 43 different personalities.”

PFEW has been successful is getting a motion tabled with the House of Lords to amend the Police and Crime Act to mandate the recording of su***de and attempted su***de in forces.

Another proactive step is for forces to put the free Stay Alive app from Grassroots Su***de Prevention on all officers’ work phones, said Spencer. Spencer spoke about how he and the Martis Media team have promoted the STEP campaign around the country and succeeded in getting the Stay Alive app put on 8,000 officers’ phones in Hampshire and Thames Valley Police. He said: “We're asking and pushing for Chiefs to put that on job mobile phones, which will cost them absolutely nothing.”

Richie added that Chief Constables also had a responsibility to look at officers’ workloads, stress levels and cancelled rest days, which all led to poor mental health.

Paul said that all Federation branches needed to push their Chief Constables to implement these changes and start recording su***des: “But it's a big fight, and I'm going to ask everyone in this room to join me and implore your Chiefs to push for this.”

It is important for officers who are struggling to know they are not alone, and that there are people there to help.

This includes, for immediacy, the Mental Health Support line from Oscar Kilo 0300 131 2789.

19/11/2025

A policing ‘charter for change’ to properly support police officers has been launched – including calls for neonatal care leave for parents of unwell babies; safe leave for officers experiencing domestic abuse and full pay after the death of a partner or child.

Mel Warnes, Deputy National Secretary of the Police Federation of England and Wales, called for compassionate leadership in policing – saying that officers in need of support when they have difficulties in their home lives are faced with a postcode lottery, and that too often they are considered a drain on resources.

She said the service should introduce a risk assessment for officers who have dealt with serious issues such as these in their personal lives to ensure they are well and ready to go back to operational duty. “This isn’t radical, it’s humane and already happening in other sectors,” Mel said.

Mel called for a number of changes: full pay for family-related leave for bereavement; carer’s leave; neonatal care leave for parents of unwell babies; safe leave for officers experiencing domestic abuse; full pay after the death of a partner or child; paid leave for miscarriage or baby loss.

She criticised the National Police Chiefs’ Council for not taking up these issues due to cost, pointing out that the cost of officers leaving the job is actually much higher.

Saying that compassion defines good leadership, she added: “Culture starts at the top in how leaders respond when officers are struggling. This cannot wait. The problem is now. The solutions are simple. If there is a will to change, act now to support officers and provide a better service to the public.”

Mel said that officers subject to misconduct allegations were often assumed to be guilty and left to deal with the stresses and strains of the investigation alone – even when a significant percentage of these cases lead to no further action.

She said: “Too often officers under investigation are isolated and treated as though they are automatically guilty. Leadership means holding people to account without abandoning them. The conduct process can leave people demoralised and broken with shattered morale.

“We need the right people joining, but those people need the right support from the leaders of the organisation. Every year officers quietly juggle caring for parents, children while balancing the demands of police work. It’s an impossible situation. Exigencies of duty has been the get out clause for compassion for decades.

“We are asking for decency, dignity, compassion and understanding – the same values we show the public every day.”

18/11/2025

An alleged Palestine Action member attacked a police officer with a sledgehammer, fracturing her back during an organised break-in at an Israeli defence firm, a court heard.

Woolwich Crown Court was told that six people accused of breaking in to Elbit Systems near Bristol had meticulously planned the incident on 6 August 2024 to cause as much damage as possible to the factory.

Charlotte Head, 29, Samuel Corner, 23, Leona Kamio, 30, Fatema Rajwani, 21, Zoe Rogers, 22, and Jordan Devlin, 31, are jointly accused of aggravated burglary, criminal damage and violent disorder.

They deny all charges and Mr Corner denies an additional allegation of causing grievous bodily harm.

The trial continues

Six Elbit Systems protesters caused "serious damage" to the Israel-based defence firm's UK site.

18/11/2025

Policing risks becoming an unaffordable profession for officers as the cost of living goes up and officer pay and conditions continue to stagnate.

National Secretary John Partington told the 2025 PFEW conference that potential recruits risk being priced out of the job because pay and conditions are so inadequate for the role that officers carry out.

He also said that equal percentage pay rises are unfair as higher ranks end up taking home more than those on the front line because of their higher baseline salary. He said lower earners – who spend almost their entire income on essential costs – need higher awards to maintain real terms pay.

He said: “A superintendent and a constable face the same inflation, but not the same pressure. Identical percentages create inequality.”

He suggested that lower earners should get higher percentage pay rises to redress this balance.

John said: “Equal percentage pay awards might look fair on paper, but they’re not fair in practice. When everyone gets the same percentage rise, those on higher salaries keep far more of their income after the bills are paid, while those on the frontline see their disposable income vanish.

“Federated rank members today spend almost everything they earn just on living. Housing, energy, and fuel have risen far faster than pay, and what used to be a modest but secure income has become a financial struggle. Simple research for credible sources will show how rent has risen more than police pay.

“This isn’t about generosity – it’s about fairness. A superintendent and a constable face the same inflation, but not the same pressure. Identical percentages create real-terms inequality, not parity. Without correction policing risks becoming unaffordable to those who deliver it.

“That’s why the next pay settlement must recognise this truth: lower earners deserve a higher pay award. Because pay that protects buying power is what keeps people in the job, keeps policing professional, and keeps faith with those who hold the line every day.”

John explained that police conditions should also be improved – to mandate sufficient rest, recovery and resilience because of the unique demands of the job.

He told delegates: “This job affects your mental health, your family life, and your personal wellbeing like few others.

“The risk of assault, the threat of injury, the emotional toll, all of these are part of policing today. And they must be met not just with decent wages, but with conditions that support rest, recovery, and resilience.”

He also highlighted the urgent need to reform police recruitment, calling for mandatory psychological and psychometric testing for every applicant and throughout initial training.

He said: “This is about safeguarding the integrity of policing. Resilience, empathy and moral strength cannot be assumed – they must be tested and proven.”

18/11/2025

The Police Federation of England and Wales National Conference is today/tomorrow.

The conference can be viewed on the PFEW's YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/PoliceFederation

And coverage begins at 1pm today.

16/11/2025

Wishing our injured colleague and all those assaulted well

Four people are arrested on suspicion of assaulting police officers, and one officer is in hospital.

13/11/2025

Police and Crime Commissioners to be scrapped in England and Wales

Tom Gent, Chair of Avon and Somerset Police Federation, said: "We endorse the comments made by Tiff Lynch, National Chair, regarding the decision to abolish PCCs by 2028.

"The Federation has long argued that the resources tied up in this model could be better invested in frontline policing and officer welfare.

"That said, we want to acknowledge that our own PCC has been consistently supportive of our members and engaged constructively with us.

"This is something that we will look to continue and remain focused on working collaboratively to deliver the best outcomes for officers and the communities we serve.

"As the national conversation around police governance evolves, our focus remains on ensuring that any future model supports operational policing, and prioritises the wellbeing of those who serve so they can continue to protect our communities."

https://www.polfed.org/news/latest-news/2025/police-and-crime-commissioners-to-be-abolished/

13/11/2025

Mortgage Clinic for Police Officers is Upcoming

11/11/2025

offers for Avon and Somerset Police officers are available here:

https://www.polfed.org/avonsom/advice-and-member-services/

09/11/2025