Campaign for suicide prevention targeted at police is launched

25 March 2025

Focused efforts to reduce the number of police officers committing suicide are now underway after the launch of a brand-new awareness campaign this week (Monday 24 March).

The Suicide Trauma Education Prevention (STEP) movement is set to make support more accessible for cops exposed to trauma related to suicide, including incidents where a member of the public has taken their own life. 

For the entire years of 2015, 2016 and 2017, 60 suspected suicides were recorded among police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) in England and Wales.

In a similar 33-month period between April 2021 and January 2024, an estimated 80 police officers and staff died by suicide.

Dyfed Powys Federation chair Delme Rees is getting behind the initiative. He said: “No one deserves to be in a place where they feel ending their life is the only option, but when we’re talking about emergency services workers often first on the scene when the worst does happen, I think targeted support is justified.

“Frontline police officers are very much a part of this, and although attending suicide incidents is part of the job, there needs to be an appreciation for how this can reflect back onto their own mental health and stability.

Trauma

“It leaves them vulnerable to trauma – in addition to other distressing moments they may witness at work – and it can uncover specific methods around suicide and self-harm, even if the officer in question is not looking for them.

“Therefore, I think an aim to put bespoke safeguarding in place for these eventualities is a good one, which should be backed by everyone in the profession.”

The STEP campaign, which has been launched by chair of Hampshire Police Federation Spencer Wragg, will be lobbied to chief officers, MPs and police and crime commissioners.

Deaths with a recorded cause of suicide stood at 7,055 in 2023, the highest figures per size of the population since 1999 – meaning the police are under increased pressure to meet the demands of the population in this regard.

A key proposal of the initiative is for parts of Trauma Risk Management (TRiM), widely introduced to the force in recent years, to become mandatory for every cop who attends a suicide.

Tragedy

Delme continued: “As public servants, we have a duty to help our communities when a tragedy happens and someone takes their own life.

“But this doesn’t mean we should lose sight of the fact we can be affected by suicide ourselves – there are enough pressures and stressors in the job before we even consider witnessing such distressing moments.

“Hopefully, this campaign can bring us a step closer to the comprehensive support you deserve when it comes to matters around suicide.”

If members feel they need support, they should contact the Federation immediately.

For Samaritans, call 116 123

There is also support offered by charities such as Flint House, the Police Treatment Centres (PTCs), The Ben Fund, Oscar Kilo, PTSD 999, Police Chaplaincy and Police Care.

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