Chief constables warned of escalating number of police suicides

Between 2011 and 2022, there were 242 suicides of current police officers and PCSOs in England and Wales. More recently – from 2021 to 2024 – an estimated 80 former and current police officers took their own lives.

But research suggests the figures are not exact because there is currently no mandate on forces to record the number of suicides among their officers and staff.

The STEP campaign, started by Spencer Wragg, chair of Hampshire Police Federation, aims to reduce the number of police officers and staff who take their own lives.

This week’s meeting outlined the aims of the STEP for police officers were outlined.

Mr Wragg met with Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, chair of the NPCC; Detective Chief Superintendent Mike Allen, on behalf of the NPCC’s Head of Professional Standards; and Andy Rhodes, Service Director of Oscar Kilo.

The group discussed the fact that, although the causes of any suicide are complicated, many officers are deeply affected when they attend incidents where a member of the public has taken their own life.

There are around 7,000 suicides a year in the UK.

One of the aims of the STEP campaign is to push for mandatory TRiM (Trauma Risk Management) referrals for every police officer or staff who attends a suicide. At the meeting, the group discussed how TRiM had helped drive forward the conversation about mental health and remove stigma.

Something that was also raised in the meeting is the impending launch of a national crisis line for officers and police staff who are struggling with suicidal thoughts and mental ill-health.

Mr Wragg said: “This was a really encouraging meeting and I would thank these senior leaders for taking the time to talk about this incredibly important but often taboo subject. It shows how far the STEP campaign has come in a short space of time.

“We all have a role in better supporting our colleagues who are struggling. But backing from chief officers and Oscar Kilo is really important.

“If we can reduce these sad statistics by providing that better and timely support for officers and staff, then this campaign will have achieved something really worthwhile.”

Following the meeting, he said the next step would be writing to the NPCC asking and encouraging the organisation to contact all chiefs in the country, outlining the aims of the STEP campaign and the need to better to support colleagues who are struggling.

The letter will point out that, over the course of a lifetime, one in five people have suicidal thoughts, and one in 15 people act on those thoughts. This suggests that thousands of police officers and staff may be experiencing suicidal thoughts, bearing in mind that the general public is exposed to less trauma that the police are.

Chief constables will also be told about the Stay Alive app (developed by the charity Grassroots Suicide Prevention), an app that Mr Wragg hopes could be added to all officers’ work mobile phones.

Mr Stephens said: “Every day, police officers and staff face traumatic situations most people never will. We must provide them with proper mental health support and protect the people who protect us.

“The health and wellbeing of our workforce is a clear priority for police chiefs, and we will continue to work with Oscar Kilo and other policing partners to embed better support and protection for our workforce.”

Mr Rhodes added: “I am so pleased that the STEP campaign is being launched nationally because it is vitally important that we all work together to reduce the stigma of talking about suicide and the message will reach so many people.

“Many police officers and staff do not feel it is safe to talk openly about these taboo issues and they can feel isolated, judged and lonely. If someone hears about the STEP campaign and they are in a dark place it will reassure them that there is support available and encourage them to seek help and support.”