‘Turn words into actions’ chair urges policing minister

20 February 2026

Northamptonshire Police Federation chair Sam Dobbs has welcomed the Policing Minister’s statement to Parliament acknowledging the ‘sacrifices involved in police work’.

But now Sam has urged Sarah Jones MP to ‘turn words into actions’ by tackling the violence faced by frontline officers, and improving their pay and conditions.

He was commenting on Ms Jones’s statement to the House of Commons, where she presented the Police Covenant annual report to fellow MPs.

Ms Jones said: “The Police Covenant demonstrates a recognition by Government, policing and society of the sacrifices involved in police work.

 

Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP

 

“The covenant sets out to ensure that members of the police workforce suffer no detriment as a result of their role.”

She added: “It is my ambition, and that of the Government as a whole, that the covenant should leave the police workforce in no doubt that we are on your side and will support you.

“You do so much to protect us, it is only right that we protect you.”

Sam said the covenant report revealed ‘a shocking’ picture of violence against police officers and staff, with an average of 115 assaults every day.

Sacrifices

He said: “While I welcome the Minister’s acknowledgement of the challenges and sacrifices made by our members, it’s now time to turn words into actions.

“She says that the Government wants to protect us.

“However, we continue to be used as a political punchbag, as well as a literal punchbag given that a shocking 115 police officers and staff are attacked on average every single day.

“This level of violence is absolutely unacceptable. These are real people, with families and loved ones, and they deserve to do their job without the threat of violence and abuse.

“We need the courts to use their full sentencing powers to send a clear message that violence against police will not be tolerated.”

Morale

Sam also called for fair pay for officers and investment in policing as a whole.

He said: “The minister says her ambition is to leave the police workforce in no doubt the Government is on our side.

“Well, our members have had their pay cut by 21 per cent in real terms since 2010. Officers are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads.

“She could improve morale in an instant and demonstrate the Government’s support for policing by restoring pay, because they have Copped Enough.”

Sam said the Government also needed to invest in policing to ensure the mental and emotional wellbeing of officers and staff.

Suicide prevention is a core purpose of the Police Covenant, and the annual report acknowledges that ‘the unique factors of the job may heighten the risk of suicide for officers and staff’.

Suicide

Data recently released by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) showed that more than 100 police officers and staff died by suicide between 2022 and 2025. At least 70 of those were police officers. During the same period, there have been more than 200 attempted suicides.

PFEW warned that the true figures are likely to be higher as forces are not currently required to record suicide or attempted suicide.

Sam said: “The figures are startling, but what is also shocking is that without proper recording, we will never fully understand the scale of the problem.

“I’d urge the minister to deliver the investment that supports our members, and to seek a change in the legislation to record police suicides and attempted suicides.

“This silent crisis has to end,” he added.

Read the Police Covenant annual report.