Resources available to care for Police Officers and their families need to be better
20 November 2023
Forces must dramatically improve wellbeing services being offered to officers, Norfolk Police Federation has said.
Andy Symonds, Chair of Norfolk Police Federation, said hardworking officers should be offered “gold standard” treatment.
But instead, Andy said both officers and their families are left in the lurch during their hour of need.
It comes as new research conducted by the National Police Wellbeing Service reveals 75 per cent of family members feel concerned about the wellbeing of a loved one who works in policing.
Andy said the results of the survey are “no surprise”.
“They understand and get that we have jobs which place our safety at risk both physically and mentally – they never feel at ease with this concept but live with it,” Andy said.
“However, what they cannot comprehend is the support for officers when the job makes them ill – be that physically, mentally or both.”
Andy praised the “good work” undertaken by both the National Police Wellbeing Service and Oscar Kilo.
He said they are working “tirelessly to support broken cops”.
But the Federation Chair called on forces to not let charities pick up the slack and instead lead the charge themselves.
“When officers are injured as a result of what the job asks them to do, then the service they should receive must be a gold standard,” Andy continued.
“However, it is a bronze standard and can, in part, be woeful.
“The police service and individual chiefs need to invest properly into the wellbeing offer they have in place for their officers.”
Diminishing budgets further worsened by increased demands on the police and inflationary pressures have created a perfect storm for forces up and down the country.
Andy said he fears policing could be facing a ticking time bomb if the wellbeing of those serving isn’t protected.
He added: “If we don’t properly invest in the wellbeing of the officers we currently have then we will see them become ill, be off sick, on restricted duties or, sadly, be ill-health retired.
“No officer wants this but due to the long waits within primary care and NHS, officers are suffering.”
Andy also called on police chiefs to take action to protect the peace of mind of officers’ families.
He continued: “Families of our officers should expect more than the current offerings that officers can avail themselves of when they are harmed due to the job they do.”
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