Sergeant heading to Canada to learn about preventing suicide

10 September 2024

A Derbyshire Police Federation member is set to work with law enforcement agencies in Canada to learn about the work they do in preventing suicide.

Sergeant Matt Peters says he has been deeply affected ‘personally and professionally’ by the death of his friend and shift colleague PC Anthony Ingham, known as Ingers, in July 2022.

Matt described Anthony’s death as ‘devastating’ and said he wants to do all he can to prevent future deaths by suicide.

Matt said: “Ingers lit up the parade room – when he arrived on time.

“He was fearless, compassionate, funny and everything you would want in a police officer.

Suicide

“He was all the cliches that come with suicide in that he was the last person you would expect to lose through suicide.”

Matt is set to travel to Canada next year for a five-week project, all in his own time, to work with law enforcement agencies to understand their approach to suicide prevention in police officers and those experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

He has been selected for the Churchill Fellowship, a charity that supports people to follow their passion for change through learning from the world and bringing that knowledge back to the UK.

Matt, a custody sergeant, has spoken about the project as part of the work done for World Suicide Prevention Day (today - sep 10).

He explained: “Like most, I find funerals hard.

“Police funerals are worse. You see people you look up to and respect, looking broken and bereft. You see supers being consoled by PCs.

“I never want to go to one again in those circumstances, which I suppose has led me to want to see what, if anything, can be learned from how other organisations in a different part of the world approach this.

Prevention

“It is estimated one in four officers in the UK have contemplated suicide. It is imperative that the one in four know they have people desperate for them not to do the unthinkable, and that no stone is left unturned in the pursuit of prevention.”

Matt said he has found planning the project therapeutic, and thanked his Inspector, Andy Murphy, for supporting him with it.

“Losing a friend in such a manner has really changed me, both personally and professionally,” Matt said.

“I felt a deep sense of responsibility for what happened, although I have grown to appreciate the events were completely out of my control.

“I therefore cannot pretend that I have not found developing my project, and planning for it, particularly therapeutic at times.”