Urgent call for mandatory recording of police suicides

26 January 2026

The failure to formally record police suicides is leaving a dangerous gap in understanding officer welfare and preventing future deaths, Derbyshire Police Federation has warned.

New data published by the Police Federation for England and Wales (PFEW) shows that between 2022 and 2025, more than 100 police officers and staff are known to have died by suicide, including at least 70 serving officers. More than 200 attempted suicides were also identified during the same period.

However, there is currently no legal requirement for police forces to record suicides or attempted suicides among their workforce. As a result, the true scale of the issue is unknown, and the Office for National Statistics does not classify policing as an occupation at risk.

Derbyshire Police Federation says this lack of mandatory recording is undermining efforts to protect officers and staff.

Branch chair Lisa Flanagan said the absence of consistent data means policing is failing to learn from tragedy.

“If we don’t record these deaths properly, we can’t understand them, and if we can’t understand them, we can’t prevent them,” she said.

Suicide

“Right now, suicide is not given the central focus it demands - but it must be measured, examined and acted upon. That is a serious failure - a failure of the wider system. Mandatory recording would force everyone to confront the reality of what is happening to our people.”

PFEW analysis has also identified a strong correlation between suicide and officers who were subject to misconduct or criminal investigations. Of the 70 officer suicides recorded between 2022 and 2025, 47 involved officers under investigation. The same applied to the majority of attempted suicides. In 2025 alone, 12 of the 13 known officer suicides involved officers facing investigation.

Lisa said this reinforced the need for better data and oversight.

“These are not abstract numbers, they represent officers who were under extreme pressure, often isolated, and navigating long, drawn-out processes,” she continued.

“With proper recording, they become evidence. This evidence can drive reform, support early intervention and ultimately save lives.”

Six-point plan

Derbyshire Police Federation supports PFEW’s six-point plan to tackle the crisis, with mandatory recording of suicide and attempted suicide as its cornerstone. The plan calls for:

• Recording and reporting all suicides and attempted suicides, backed by law.

• Limiting misconduct investigations to 12 months.
  Treating suicide as a work-related incident under Health and Safety legislation.

• National rollout of the STEP (Suicide Trauma Education Prevention) initiative, including mandatory TRiM support and the Stay Alive app.

• Reforming the coronial system to reflect policing-specific risk factors.

• Fully funding the Police Covenant to support officer welfare and wellbeing.

Tiff Lynch, PFEW chair, said: “This silent crisis has to end. Policing is a unique job carrying unique risks and officers know that the work they do will scar them mentally and physically.

“What they shouldn’t have to deal with is inadequate welfare support and a box-ticking approach to the duty of care forces have in their people.”

For urgent mental health help or immediate support, please contact:

Samaritans: 116 123

Oscar Kilo’s Mental Health Crisis Line: 0300 131 2789