Durham Police Federation has welcomed a landmark agreement by chief constables to introduce mandatory recording of police officer suicides and attempted suicides.

The development follows the inquest into the death of Sergeant Ben Websdale, who died by suicide - a case that has intensified calls for greater transparency and support within the service.

Federation Secretary Phil Stephenson hailed the movement as a crucial step forward in tackling what many describe as policing’s ‘silent crisis’, adding that the change marks a significant moment in recognising the realities officers face every day.

“Policing is unlike any other profession,” he said. “Officers can experience hundreds of traumatic incidents over the course of their careers.

“They are routinely exposed to violence, work long and antisocial hours, and face ongoing concerns around pay and conditions - all of which can build over time and take a serious toll on wellbeing.”

He added that meaningful action is long overdue.

“Officer mental health and suicide prevention must be treated as urgent priorities. Making the recording of police suicides mandatory is an important step towards understanding the scale of the issue and ensuring officers get the support they need."

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) has been calling for the mandatory recording of police suicides and attempted suicides after figures revealed that between 2022 and 2025, at least 70 serving officers are known to have died by suicide.

Now the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has agreed to make recording of suicides mandatory and to introduce a trauma support system, annual psychological assessments, and training, according to a report in the Mirror.

It comes after coroner Penelope Schofield published a report earlier this year calling on forces to record officer suicides.

Phil said: “PFEW has been campaigning on this issue for some time, so the change announced by the NPCC is very welcome.

“However, this must be the beginning, not the end. Further reforms are needed, including a 12-month limit on disciplinary investigations and meaningful improvements to wellbeing provision across policing.

“You cannot effectively prevent something if it is not properly recorded or fully understood. Ensuring that suicides and attempted suicides are consistently documented is a vital step forward.

“This change will enable forces to identify patterns, understand risk factors, and better recognise the pressures affecting officer wellbeing.

“It should also empower welfare teams to intervene earlier, strengthen support systems, and ultimately help save lives.

“Every officer and member of staff deserves to know that their welfare is taken seriously.”

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