Police wellbeing is the focus of a new goal being launched today
(Tuesday 3 July) by the Home Office in conjunction with partners
in policing and mental health.
Partners who developed the goal pledge to work together to boost
the welfare support available to police officers and staff in
England and Wales over the next 3 years.
The Home Secretary was clear in his speech to the Police
Federation in May that he wanted to “totally transform the
welfare provision” for police. Today’s goal represents the result
of 6 months of engagement by the Minister for Policing and the
Fire Service with policing partners and health experts, and sets
out a shared vision for ensuring police officers and staff have
the support they need to flourish.
The minister has joined major policing groups, including the
Police Federation, National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), and
the College of Policing, in drawing up the new goal.
The goal has also received the backing of Mind, the mental health
charity which provides support to over half a million people in
England and Wales.
Minister for Policing and the Fire Service said:
We have heard the message that police welfare support must
improve. Officers put themselves in harm’s way to protect the
public, so it’s vital the government and chief officers have
their back.
This goal represents a real step towards police leaders
ensuring every member of their force feels valued and
supported, but it won’t solve the issue by itself – action must
follow.
By signing up to the goal, police leaders pledge to create a
culture in forces that focuses on early intervention to help
officers and staff. The goal also demands that forces provide key
forms of assistance – including occupational health and effective
line management – and signposts to other providers, including
police charities, which can support officers or staff facing
specific challenges.
The goal grew out of a roundtable chaired by the minister in
January, which was attended by police leaders and health experts.
The minister will chair a second roundtable on the issue today.
The goal complements existing funding from the government to
improve the tools and resources available to police officers and
staff.
The former Home Secretary awarded £7.5 million to the College of
Policing in July 2017 over 3 years to pilot and, if successful,
fund a dedicated national welfare service. The funding covers a
mapping project that will provide a clearer picture of the
welfare needs of police forces across England and Wales.
The government has also awarded £7 million to Mind to fund their
Blue Light Wellbeing Programme – which provides mental health
support to members of the emergency services – and £1.5 million
to the Police Treatment Centre in Harrogate, which treats police
officers suffering from illness or injury.
You can read the full text of the police wellbeing goal.
