Conference 2025: PFEW flags growing crisis and celebrates campaign success

18 November 2025

The opening of this year’s Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) conference set a clear message: policing is at a crossroads, and officers need stronger support than ever before.

With pay pressures, workforce shortages and rising demand dominating the landscape, the Federation used day one of its national gathering to spotlight the progress of the Copped Enough campaign and outline the work still to be done.

Chair Tiff Lynch addressed delegates by reflecting on the past year of campaigning, saying it had helped shift the national conversation about policing.

“One year ago, we said ‘enough is enough’,” she said. “We told the country that police officers deserve fair pay and respect - and the people have listened. 

 

Chair Tiff Lynch opens this year's PFEW conference in Birmingham.

 

Copped Enough has become more than a campaign. It’s a movement. It's put policing back at the centre of the national conversation.

"And it's united, our members are reminded the public that behind every uniform is a person who deserves to be valued.”

Copped Enough was launched to draw attention to long-standing issues including frozen pay progression, increasing workloads, falling morale and the worsening recruitment crisis.

Campaign impact

A video message from deputy national chair Brian Booth showcased the impact the campaign has already made.

Brian highlighted the growing political backing behind officers’ concerns.

“The campaign has worked really well when we're engaging with MPs,” he said. “We've tabled a bill within the House of Lords for the recording of police officer suicide, something which has never been done before.

"We're also now looking at police driving legislation. We've managed to secure some absolutely fantastic pay awards, and we're influencing government massively.”

Brian celebrated the commitment of Federation representatives, improved communications and a wave of new volunteers.

Hard-working Fed reps

He underscored the essential work of Federation reps and improvements in communication: “Behind every investigation, there's a hard-working Fed representative - we've got the right people in the right place delivering key messages. We're getting stronger day by day.”

Held at Birmingham’s NEC, the first face-to-face conference since 2022 also prompted Tiff to reflect on the resilience of the policing community after years of rapid change and national pressure.

“Here we are, still standing, shoulder to shoulder, and we’re still fighting for fairness,” she said. She described the conference as a chance to reconnect and reunite the Federation membership.

Keynote speeches

Day one included sessions on pay and conditions, support for officers’ families, and a keynote by PFEW chief executive Mukund Krishna. Awards were presented for Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing and Detective of the Year.

Tomorrow’s programme, beginning at 9.20am, features Tiff’s keynote speech, a panel on policing’s suicide crisis, an update on #SimplifyDG6, and further award presentations.

You can re-watch today’s sessions and tune in live tomorrow via the PFEW YouTube channel.

READ MORE: Exclusive benefits for Federation members.