Mandatory recording of officer suicides agreed following Fed campaign

17 April 2026

North Wales Federation has welcomed a landmark change to police welfare after chief constables agreed to introduce the mandatory recording of officer suicides.

It follows sustained campaigning by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), which described suicide as policing’s ‘silent crisis’.

Branch chair Trystan Bevan said the change showed the power of officers’ collective voice.

And he thanked North Wales Police’s Chief Constable Amanda Blakeman for working with the Federation on the issue.

Officer welfare

Trystan said: “This is an important moment in officer welfare.

“These events have not been recorded up until now, which means the police service cannot accurately identify patterns, trends, or risk factors.

“Without that data, forces cannot assess what contributes to these incidents, recognise officers at risk, or develop effective prevention strategies.

“The change is the result of a collaborative effort, with PFEW campaigning nationally on the issue.

 

 

“On a local level, the branch recently joined colleagues from the three other Welsh Police Federations in taking the campaign message to Westminster and to our local MPs.

“And our chief has been supportive for a long time, and we have been doing a lot of work with her since the call was made by the Federation.

“I’d like to place on record our gratitude to the Force for working with us to get better systems in place.”

He added: “This illustrates how our collective voices can bring about change.”

Recording suicides

PFEW has been calling for the mandatory recording of police suicides and attempted suicides after figures revealed that between 2022 and 2025, at least 70 serving officers are known to have died by suicide.

Calls for reform intensified after the death of Sergeant Ben Websdale. The coroner at his inquest, Penelope Schofield, published a report calling on forces to record officer suicides.

Now the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) has agreed to make recording of suicides mandatory and to introduce a trauma support system, annual psychological assessments, and training, according to a report in the Mirror.

Trystan said: “As police officers, we see ourselves as the helpers and that we don’t need help ourselves.

“But policing is a unique role in which we’re often exposed to trauma, tragedy, and risk that most people will never encounter.

Mental health

“Add long and unsociable shifts, workloads, and the violence officers face, that can accumulate and impact on mental health.

“Which is why this change is a welcome first step, but other changes now need to follow.”

PFEW’s campaign has highlighted the link to the misconduct system. It found that 47 of the 70 suicides involved officers under misconduct or criminal investigation, with 173 of 236 attempted suicides also linked to officers under investigation.

It has led the Federation to strengthen its campaign for a 12-month limit on disciplinary investigations.

Trystan said: “All too often these investigations continue for years, leaving officers in prolonged uncertainty.

Wellbeing

“This can have a profound impact not just professionally but personally and psychologically.

“We have been clear for some time that lengthy investigations can seriously affect wellbeing.

“Which is why the Federation has been campaigning for a time limit on investigations, because it will save lives.”

For urgent mental health help or immediate support, please contact:

• Samaritans: 116 123

• Oscar Kilo’s Mental Health Crisis Line: 0300 131 2789

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