No officer should face misconduct proceedings without a continuous assessment of their welfare needs.

That was the stark warning from Police Federation Equality Lead Hayley Aley as she addressed the Police Superintendents' Association Annual Conference.

Their message comes against the backdrop of concerning suicide data showing officers under investigation face some of the greatest welfare risks in policing.

Of the officer suicide cases known to Federation welfare networks, more than half involved officers facing misconduct investigations, Professional Standards Department processes, criminal investigations, suspensions or workplace restrictions.

The scale of the issue is stark. Between 2022 and 2025, 47 of 75 recorded officer suicides (62.7 per cent) involved officers who were under investigation.

The picture in 2026 is even more alarming. Every officer suicide reported to Federation welfare networks so far this year, 13 in total, involved an officer who was under investigation.

Hayley Aley said investigations can leave officers and their families trapped in uncertainty for years.

She said: "For many officers, the investigation becomes the punishment. We have seen careers, confidence and family life eroded by years of uncertainty, with lasting consequences for health and wellbeing.

"The fact that more than half of officers who died by suicide, or attempted suicide, were under investigation should stop everyone in policing in their tracks. Behind every one of those cases is a life lost, a family devastated and lessons that must be learned."

While approximately 39 of 43 forces (91 per cent) now have a welfare and/or risk assessment process in place, the quality, independence, training and consistency of those arrangements differ significantly.

"We need stronger, standardised welfare and risk assessments from day one of an investigation, continuing right through to after the outcome. It is unacceptable that the level of care an officer receives depends on which force employs them,” Hayley continued.

"No officer should have to navigate the stress of an investigation without trained, professional welfare support. Those carrying out that role need specialist training and ongoing development to recognise and respond to risk.

"Behind every statistic is a colleague, a family and a life changed forever. Whether driven by the weight of trauma or the strain of prolonged investigations, these are not just numbers. The Federation will continue fighting for stronger protections, consistent standards and a welfare system that leaves no officer behind."

The strongest-performing forces provide early intervention, independent support, trained welfare practitioners and ongoing risk assessments, offering a blueprint for national standards.

The Federation is calling for every officer under investigation to receive continuous welfare support throughout the process and beyond, integrating next steps whether that is returning to duties or exiting the organisation. It must include regular risk assessments, access to support networks and a clear exit strategy once proceedings conclude.

Through our Copped Enough campaign, we aim to:

- Expose the true scale of police suicide
- Demand accountability from policing leaders and government
- Ensure officers receive the protection, welfare support and dignity they deserve
- Push for legislative and regulatory change to prevent further loss of life

This is not just a policing issue. It is a national wellbeing crisis affecting the people who protect our communities every day.