Time limits on police conduct probes could save officers’ lives, says chair

4 March 2026

Dyfed Powys Federation chair Delme Rees hopes legislation going through Parliament could see time limits placed on police conduct investigations.

Delme said the step is needed to help reduce the ‘worrying’ numbers of suicides and attempted suicides by police officers and staff.

His comments come as amendments to the Police and Crime Bill are due to go back before the House of Commons today (Wednesday).

The amendments, tabled by Lord Bailey of Paddington, include a time limit for police misconduct investigations.

It follows work by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) into police suicide.

Suicide

PFEW found that between 2022 and 2025 at least 70 police officers died by suicide, with 47 involved in misconduct or criminal investigations against them. It also found that 173 of 236 attempted suicides involved in misconduct or criminal investigations.

Delme said he believed the amendment, if voted through, could help reduce the numbers of police suicides.

He said: “For me, the length of conduct investigations is hugely important with regard to police suicides.

“If we can reduce the length of time it takes to carry out an investigation then it is likely to reduce the numbers of suicides.

“It’s in everyone’s interests to speed up the process because we don’t want bad officers in policing, we want good officers back on duty, we don’t want it to be a drain on the public purse, and we don’t want the mental health impact that we’re seeing now.”

 

Delme and fellow Welsh Federation representatives meet with MPs in Westminster

 

Delme was speaking after a briefing in Westminster on Tuesday to highlight policing issues with Welsh MPs.

He was joined by colleagues from the three other Welsh Federation branches, Gwent chair Matthew Candy, North Wales conduct and performance lead Liz Owen, and South Wales chair Phil Walker, as well as PFEW Welsh co-lead Leigh Godfrey and deputy national chair Brian Booth.

The briefing was held at Portcullis House and was attended by Wales MPs Jess Morden, Chris Evans, Gerald Jones, Ann Davies, Ruth Jones, Liz Saville-Roberts, Chris Elmore, Tonia Antoniazzi, and staff of Alex Davies-Jones.

The MPs were told that two other amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill have been tabled.

Safeguards

They are the need to record officially the number of police officer suicides.

Currently, police forces are not mandated to record the number of police suicides or attempted suicide, resulting in some doing so and others not.

PFEW is concerned that, if forces do not know the scale of the problem, then it will be impossible for them to put in place suitable safeguards to protect their workers.

The final amendment is to section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to give officers, once a lawful stop has been made, a clear statutory power to require occupants to exit and remain outside the vehicle while the stop is safely managed.

 

Delme with Ann Davies - the Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin

This closes the operational gap created by keyless and electric vehicles, and addresses the avoidable risk members face at the roadside, PFEW said.

Delme said: “Our MPs are incredibly busy given the current world events and the spring budgetary statement, so we are grateful for them giving of their time.

“It was really good to be able to speak directly to them about current issues and legislation, and to build relationships for the benefit of members.”

READ MORE: Chair backs national plan to end silent crisis of suicide.