STEP Campaign Features at Disability in Policing Conference

30 September 2025

Hampshire Police Federation Chair Spencer Wragg discussed the #STEP campaign at the 2025 Disability in Policing Conference this week.

The #STEP - Suicide Trauma Education Prevention - campaign is calling on forces to introduce mandatory Trim referrals following a police officer or staff attending a suicide, wants forces to add a bespoke mental health/wellbeing APP to force mobile devices, calls on forces to better collect data on police officer and staff suicide/attempted suicide so we can better measure the extent of the issue and wants to encourage colleagues to talk about the taboo subject and not be concerned about that.

Spencer highlighted how nearly 8,000 police officers and staff in Hampshire and Thames Valley received a suicide-prevention APP on their work mobile phones - and called on more forces to follow suit.

The Stay Alive APP, developed by the Grassroots Suicide Prevention Charity, provides tailored information to people in crisis and also provides assistance for those trying to help others in crisis. 

Spencer said: “It's an APP I hope you never need to use, but if you find yourself in crisis or you’re trying to help a friend, family member or colleague then you’ll be glad you have it.

"It wont cost Chiefs, forces or policing anything to download, but the cost of not having it could be everything for an individual in times of crisis as its an immediate place to reach out to."

It emerged in September that at least 100 police officers and staff have taken their own lives in three years in a growing mental health crisis.

Police Federation of England and Wales figures show that dozens of officers have taken their own lives while they were being investigated.

From 2022 to 2024, across 35 police forces, 55 officers took their own lives, 32 of whom were under investigation. In addition, at least 106 officers attempted suicide, 57 of whom were under investigation.

But the true figures are likely to be much higher, as suicide data is not routinely recorded, and eight forces, including the Metropolitan Police, are yet to provide figures.

Spencer highlighted at the Conference how there are pockets of good work going on across policing when it comes to suicide prevention - but there needs to be a better, more coordinated national response.

It is important for officers who are struggling to know they are not alone, and that there are people there to help. This includes, for immediacy:

The Mental Health Crisis Line: call 0300 131 2789 and Samaritans: call 116 123.

Officers can also access the support offered by charities and organisations including Flint House, Police Treatment Centres, The Ben Fund and Oscar Kilo and Grassroots Suicide Prevention.