Officers under investigation must be treated with compassion, says Federation

It comes as Hampshire Constabulary’s new chief constable, Alexis Boon, this week called for more safeguarding for police officers under investigation, and said the support system needed drastic change, after two officers died this year whilst under investigation.

Federation chair Spencer Wragg, who also heads up the STEP (Suicide Trauma Education Prevention) campaign, said: “The Federation has been supporting both families of the officers who have died and continue to support them. We are also supporting our police colleagues, as the impact of these deaths has hit them hard.”

The police and crime commissioner (PCC) is also conducting an independent review of Hampshire Constabulary.

Hampshire PCC, Donna Jones, said she had “serious concerns” about how officers and staff are treated while under investigation.

Mr Wragg said: “We have to work within Police Regulations, which can be somewhat archaic at times. As a Federation, we look for investigations to be dealt with compassionately and as quickly and efficiently as possible. I think the proportionality of some investigations also needs to be considered.”

He added that when officers were under investigation, “they sometimes feel isolated and even ostracised from their friends and colleagues within the organisation, and that’s something that needs to be addressed urgently”.

“We recognise that this isn’t an issue specific to Hampshire; it’s replicated up and down the country, in every force, with officers who are under investigation. So there needs to be a change nationally,” Mr Wragg said.

“We await with interest the results of the PCC’s independent review and the recommendations it makes.”

Police Federation of England and Wales figures show that dozens of officers have taken their own lives while they were being investigated.

From 2022 to 2024, across 35 police forces, 55 officers took their own lives, 32 of whom were under investigation. In addition, at least 106 officers attempted suicide, 57 of whom were under investigation.

But the true figures are likely to be much higher, as suicide data is not routinely recorded, and eight forces, including the Metropolitan Police Service, are yet to provide figures.

Mr Wragg said: “My advice to colleagues who are currently under investigation is to talk to your friends, family, colleagues or the Federation about how you’re feeling, what you need and what support you need to access. Reach out for support with your mental health and don’t suffer in silence.

“When you’re under investigation, you’re often told that you can’t talk about the allegation itself, but you don’t need to talk about that. Forces should help officers understand what they can and can’t talk about, because trying to deal with all of these things on your own is not helping anyone.”