15 March 2021

Response Policing Wellbeing and Recognition Week is vital to keep officers welfare front of mind

Dorset Police Federation says a week-long response policing awareness campaign is a vital way to keep response officers’ welfare front of mind.

The Response Policing Wellbeing and Recognition ‘Week of Action’ aims to recognise the work response officers across the country do every day to keep their communities safe and to highlight the mental and physical toll the job can take on them.

Response Policing equates to more than a quarter of all UK policing, and the inaugural event, which runs from 15^th-22^nd March, has been developed to recognise and celebrate all officers performing a response policing function.

After the extremely challenging year officers have faced, Dorset Police Federation Chair Anna Harvey said the campaign hadn’t come a moment too soon.

“If we’ve learned anything over the last 12 months, it’s to make sure that we look after our own wellbeing,” she said.

 “That’s why the wellbeing and resilience week is so important. Our frontline response cops and support services have been at the forefront of policing this pandemic, and it’s taken its toll.

“We need to look after the welfare across the board; proper facilities, proper rest areas and canteens, and even proper food provisions.”

Early intervention and getting officers the help they might need as soon as possible is critical, she added.

“We need early intervention for psychological and physical conditions. Again, welfare’s not just about conditions; it’s also about pay, positive working environments, proper equipment, proper cars to make sure they can do the job they are trained to do.

“I am so proud of all my colleagues who have worked so hard to keep communities and the NHS safe over the past 12 months.”

A series of webinars aimed at helping response officers think about and foster good mental and physical wellbeing have been made available while each force will be recognising the campaign week in their own way.

For more visit; https://oscarkilo.org.uk/resources-to-support-npcc-week-of-action/