Increased funding for police wellbeing - NPCC response

Responding to an announcement that enhanced support would be made available for police in traumatic and dangerous environments, Chief Constable Gavin Stephens, NPCC Chair, said: 

"I welcome the announcement from the Government that increased funding will be made available to enhance the wellbeing of those working in policing.

Whilst there has been positive change and a greater focus on protecting the welfare of officers and staff in recent years there is still more that we can and must do.

The Police Reform White Paper aims to deliver the biggest transformation to policing since the 1960s. Just as the nature of crime and policing demand has changed during that time, so too has the pressure on officers and staff working in policing and their exposure to trauma, risk and threats to their physical and mental health.

The White Paper highlighted the essential role that workforce wellbeing has in delivering modern and resilient policing and sets out a number of commitments that this funding will support the delivery of.

This includes strengthening the Police Covenant and introducing mandatory national wellbeing standards to ensure that there is greater consistency across policing in terms of the wellbeing support available to those working within the service.

The expansion of psychological health checks in frontline and high-risk roles, as well as the roll out of new initiatives such as trauma tracking, are also very welcome and important steps.

I look forward to continuing to work with the Government, National Police Wellbeing Service, the College of Policing, local police forces and policing partners in delivering these important improvements to wellbeing across the service."