Oscar Kilo launches tailored support for investigators

22 June 2021

A toolkit specially created to help detectives and investigators with their emotional wellbeing has been welcomed by Humberside Police Federation.

The online resource has been carefully designed with their specific needs in mind and aims to ensure they know where and how they can access support when they need it.

It also aims to provide members in investigative roles with the information they need to build up and maintain the resilience they require to continue to carry out the vital work they do

The toolkit is available to all officers and staff via the Oscar Kilo website.

Humberside Police Federation chair Lee Sims said:  “This is a terrific resource for our members who work in investigative roles across the Force.

“We take their mental health and emotional wellbeing incredibly seriously, and anything that can provide them with support and assistance is to be warmly welcomed.

“Our detectives and investigators are under extraordinary pressure to get results and recent research found increased workloads and staff shortages have really been taking their toll on them.

“I think that makes this new toolkit even more valuable and I would really encourage members to have a look at the website and get involved with some of the online sessions.”

The toolkit was put together after eight months of work by a National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) working group in close collaboration with colleagues from the Police Federation, College of Policing, Oscar Kilo, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and other force champions.

The group drew on research, particularly the National Police Wellbeing Service and the Durham University 2019 Wellbeing Survey, which found investigators experienced the lowest levels of wellbeing across policing, and particularly suffered from a loss of emotional energy.

Deputy Chief Constable Jason Hogg, the NPCC lead for investigator resilience, said: “The role of a detective and police staff investigator (PSI) is incredibly rewarding but can also be extremely challenging and can have an adverse impact on health and wellbeing.

“It is therefore more important than ever for officers, staff and supervisors to look after themselves and each other and I encourage you to access the resources in this toolkit.”

Detective Chief Superintendent Martin Brunning, who leads the national group, said: “As a career detective, I can think of no other policing specialism that brings more satisfaction and sense of personal pride than being an investigator.  

“Supporting victims and their families through the most harrowing life experiences and finally securing justice is why many of us join policing.

“However, we know that the personal sacrifices investigators make, the continual exposure to trauma and the high workloads can converge to heavily impact on the wellbeing of investigators.

“Across UK policing there is an absolute plethora of wellbeing interventions, initiatives and measures available. However, to date we have not had a central repository for interventions, any measure of their effectiveness and there has been much duplicated effort.”

Chief Constable Chris Rowley, NPCC lead for wellbeing and engagement, said: “It is encouraging to see national working groups coming together to deliver something that we believe will be of real benefit to those doing the job, day in, day out.”