"As Branch Secretary of Leicestershire Police Federation, I’ve been fortunate to also serve as a Trustee for Flint House Rehabilitation Centre. I’ve personally supported Flint House for nearly 25 years—thankfully without ever needing its services myself—but I’ve long seen first-hand the incredible difference it makes."
Leicestershire Police Federation Branch Chair, Andy Spence, and Leicestershire Police Unison Branch Chair, Paul Gurney, have produced a joint letter to Leicestershire Police and Crime Commissioner, Rupert Matthews, to express concerns regarding the decision to allocate approximately £2 million of public funding towards SIA-registered street wardens
Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: “I am really concerned by this proposal by Rupert Matthews.
As part of Response Policing Week, Leicestershire Police Federation Secretary Joe Lloyd joined a response team in the force to see first-hand the pressures they face.
Brand New Leicestershire Police Federation Podcast - Episode 1: Money Matters is now live
Leicestershire Police Federation, along with the Group Insurance Scheme and Medical Scheme, held a UK Blood Drive last week to encourage officers and staff members to donate blood.
Statement from Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence, following the PCC's announcement that he will increase the council tax precept by the maximum allowable £15.
Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "Leicestershire Police has already faced budget cuts of £23m and the PCC now wants to make further cuts which will see a cumulative loss of £4m a year by 2030.
More than 100 police officers and staff died by suicide between 2022 and 2025. At least 70 police officers have died during that time and there have been more than 200 attempted suicides.
The families of 30 UK police officers who have died on duty have seen their loved one’s sacrifice be recognised by the King with the Elizabeth Emblem.
As the year comes to an end, Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence reflects on a busy 2025, looks ahead to future policing developments, and sends members a message of thanks.
Over 18,000 officer working days were lost to sickness in Leicestershire Police last year, which shows “just how dangerous policing is”, the Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation has said.
There were a staggering 48,888 assaults on UK officers over the past year - meaning an officer is assaulted on average every ten minutes in England and Wales.
Rich Matlock has spent nearly thirty years saying “yes” to whatever policing put in front of him.
Delegates at the Police Federation’s Annual Conference have voted to introduce a £2 per month increase in member subscriptions from 1 January 2026. This will take the gross monthly rate from £24.31 to £26.31.
Forces need to step up to record the numbers of police suicides and provide welfare support to officers, particularly those who are under investigation, the Police Federation of England and Wales Annual Conference heard.
Deputy National Secretary Mel Warnes called for compassionate leadership in policing – saying that officers in need of support when they have difficulties in their home lives are faced with a postcode lottery, and that too often they are considered a drain on resources.
National Secretary John Partington told the 2025 PFEW conference that potential recruits risk being priced out of the job because pay and conditions are so inadequate for the role that officers carry out.
Roads policing officers are being repeatedly exposed to trauma with too few colleagues to share the burden, the Leicestershire Police Federation has warned.
Thousands of police officers who have died on duty were honoured at the 22nd annual National Police Memorial Day.
“As a police force, we are struggling and creaking and being pulled in every direction,” the Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation said, in response to the new State of Policing Report.
The National Police Wellbeing Survey found that 67% of officers reported physical exhaustion, while 58% said they were mentally exhausted last month.
Q&A with Leicestershire Police Federation's new Branch Secretary, Joe Lloyd
Experienced officers are being driven from the Job by unsustainable workloads, lack of work-life balance, and increased scrutiny, Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence has warned.
There was emotion as police officers who have died on duty were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.
Police officers and staff in England and Wales are frustrated with their uniforms which they say, are unfit for purpose, restrictive and contribute to major health issues, a new survey has found.
Leicestershire Police has seen a 28% increase in officers taking on second jobs simply to make ends meet, new figures have shown.
The Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation said it was important to honour the “heroic acts” of fallen officers as he prepares to take part in the 2025 Police Unity Tour.
Kent Police officers are being encouraged to keep an eye on colleagues who may be struggling with their mental health.
Hundreds of officers are on the brink of resigning from Leicestershire Police as they have copped enough of attacks to their pay and conditions, damning figures revealed.
A pair of young PCs who “went above and beyond what any human should have to do”, saving the life of a woman suffering catastrophic bleeding after her partner stabbed her, have been nominated for the National Police Bravery Awards 2025.
Today, on International Workers’ Day, Leicestershire Police Federation is backing the national launch of Copped Enough: What the Police Take Home is Criminal — a hard-hitting campaign exposing the crisis in policing that is endangering officers' lives and putting public safety at risk.
A new hard-hitting campaign has been launched today (Monday 24 March) aiming to reduce the escalating number of police officers who take their own lives - and to better support cops who are attending suicides.
A new survey which reveals a quarter of Officers with 1-5 years’ service are contemplating leaving policing due to financial stress and workplace pressures comes as no surprise.
It is vitally important for officers to decompress and take a short break on busy shifts, when they have often dealt with traumatic incidents.
Andy Spence, Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation, said: "This incident is horrifying. Police officers were going about their normal day to day job, speaking with someone who had falsely told them that the dog was secured when it wasn’t.
A woman with multiple convictions for violence against police officers has again escaped a custodial sentence for yet another attack.
On behalf of Leicestershire Police Federation we would like to wish all police officers, staff, volunteers and their families a Merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
The families of police officers who have died on duty have spoken of their honour and pride at receiving the new Elizabeth Emblem in their memory.
Thousands of police officers who have died on duty have been honoured at the 21st annual National Police Memorial Day.
A Police Memorial stone was today unveiled in memory of murdered Metropolitan Police Sgt Matui Ratana.
The lives of almost 5,000 fallen police officers are to be remembered at the upcoming National Police Memorial Day Service in Glasgow.
The police service needs to investigate whether there is a correlation between officer assaults and the number of people leaving the service in their first five years.
There are no "extra police officers" to deal with the relentless demand policing faces, the Government has been told.
Speaking at the Superintendents Association Conference, Andy Cooke said officers feel let down by the lack of communication from their forces and that the police service needs to get better at telling its story to the public.
More than 14,500 UK police officers were signed off work over the past year due to stress, depression, anxiety or PTSD it can be revealed.
In Leicestershire 928 Leicestershire Police officers were assaulted in the past year, a worrying upwards trend on the previous year.
Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence has reacted to the 4.75% pay rise award for police officers in 2024.
There was emotion and humour as police officers who have died on duty were remembered by their family and friends at the Care of Police Survivors (COPS) Annual Service of Remembrance.
Police officers have voted overwhelmingly in favour of their Federation representatives campaigning for collective bargaining on pay.
The new Government needs to make policing a priority, Leicestershire Police Federation has said – especially when it comes to pay, conditions and recruitment.
A Leicestershire Police officer who was badly injured when she was run over by a car has said she is “appalled” by the lenient sentence handed out to the offender.
A dedicated duo have been nominated for the national Police Bravery Awards 2024 for their courage and determination whilst chasing a dangerous individual wielding a large weapon and looking to cause harm.
Andy Spence is the new Acting Chair of Leicestershire Police Federation as Nadia Rana returns to the role of Vice Chair – and is elected to speak for officers as a Regional Representative.
82% of Leicestershire Police officers feel ‘worse off’ financially now than they were five years ago and 15% ‘never’ or ‘almost never’ have enough money to cover all their essentials.
More than one in five police officers are planning on quitting the police service, with a staggering 78 per cent highlighting poor government treatment as a contributing factor.
Police pay is “appallingly low” while officers are facing increasing demand and pressure, Leicestershire Police Federation has said.
Family members of police officers, firefighters and other public servants who have died in public service will be recognised by a new emblem.
A charity which has helped thousands of children of police officers over the decades has entered 2024 with a brand new name – Police Children’s Fund.
An officer at Leicestershire Police Crime Bureau has started a petition in a bid to close a loophole where emergency services can get verbally assaulted in a private dwelling without due recourse.
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), recognising that the current system for determining police officer pay and conditions is not fit for purpose, will add a notable chapter to the UK’s policing history in 2024 as it ballots its membership on pursuing industrial rights.
Christmas and New Year message from Leicestershire Police Federation Acting Chair Nadia Rana
The Home Secretary has announced a new 24-hour mental health support line for police officers and staff, and is also pushing for up-to-date Tasers and a reduction in red tape for detectives.
The Police Federation of England and Wales has promised to do “everything we can to get the right results for our members” when it comes to seeking fair police pay.
Welfare vans have been praised for bringing about significant wellbeing improvements for officers on mutual aid at the Police Federation of England and Wales conference.
Representatives from Leicestershire Police Federation have paid tribute to the thousands of officers who have lost their lives in duty, at the 20th annual National Police Memorial Day in Cardiff.
Proposed reforms of the police conduct process are unnecessary given that officers are already bound by fair and effective processes, Leicestershire Police Federation has said.
Quick links to information on the national Police Federation website
