Representatives from Police Federation of England and Wales’ Research and Policy Support department have taken a major role at a high-profile conference which focused on psychology within the workplace.

Natalie Wellington and Nicola Chandler addressed the prestigious Division of Occupational Psychology Annual Conference 2020 at Stratford-upon-Avon which attracted practitioners and academics from all over the world.

The three-day event was organised by the British Psychological Society, the representative body for UK psychology and psychologists, and showcased new research, thought leadership and a diverse range of keynote speakers.

Leading practitioners Natalie Wellington and Nicola Chandler, both members of the Federation’s research department which supplies evidence-based data to influence the future of policing, jointly presented a paper titled: ‘Bobby come back: Police leavers’ attitudes to re-joining the police service’.

Ms Chandler said: “Our paper examined data collected within our Leavers’ Survey to see whether those who had left the service might consider re-joining the police, and what reasons might have made them reconsider their original decision.

“This is particularly relevant when considering the need to recruit 20,000 new officers, and the amount of time it takes to attract, recruit and train these individuals.”

She continued: “We examined whether it would be a benefit to know what might encourage officers with experience, or who have left or are leaving the police, to re-join or reconsider their decision.

“It was a great opportunity to highlight the subject in front of an international audience of peers, and of course to promote the work done by team members in the Research and Policy Support department,” she concluded.

PFEW’s highly respected Research and Policy Support division plays a vital part in providing strategically important evidence to help achieve the best pay and conditions for members.

The Division of Occupational Psychology is a sub-group of the British Psychological Society. The Society ‘acts as the representative body for psychology and psychologists in the UK and is responsible for the promotion of excellence and ethical practice in the science, education, and application of the discipline.’