‘The impact of trauma is real and it is seriously affecting the mental health of many members’, says the chair of Nottinghamshire Police Federation as he shines a light on a suicide prevention campaign.

Simon Riley has thrown his support behind STEP (Suicide Trauma Education Prevention), a national campaign that aims to raise awareness of the amount of trauma officers face in their jobs, in particular when they attend suicides. The campaign also highlights the support available for members when they need it most.

Statistics show that in 2023, there were 7,055 deaths by suicide in the UK, with every incident attended by at least one police officer.

“I’ve said it before, and I will say it again - and I will keep saying it - behind the police uniform is a human being,” said Simon.

“The majority of police officers join the Force because they want to protect the public - they care. As police officers, one of our biggest skills tends to be empathy. With that in mind, attending such tragic incidents that involve suicide will have an impact on them.

“And we must remember, it’s not just attending the incident itself, but that police officer will most likely have to let that person’s loved ones know. That’s a very difficult job. It’s impossible for us not to feel empathy in those circumstances.

Trauma

“The trouble is, we’re not necessarily empathetic to ourselves. Police officers feel the impact and carry that trauma with them, without always getting the help they need.”

Across the 36 months of 2015, 2016 and 2017, 60 suspected suicides were recorded among police officers and police community support officers (PCSOs) in England and Wales.

By comparison, a similar 33-month period from April 2021 to January 2024 saw an estimated 80 police officers and staff die by suicide.

Simon continued: “It’s very concerning to hear these figures. However, I think this is more than a police issue, this is a societal issue that needs to be addressed. Why are these numbers so high?” 

STEP initiative

The STEP initiative, which was launched by Hampshire Police Federation chair Spencer Wragg last month (March), is being lobbied to chief officers, MPs, and police and crime commissioners.

“I don’t think any amount of training can prepare a police officer for what they see or how they feel, when attending their first suicide,” added Simon.

“And it won’t just be the one incident like that, that they attend - some of our members go to numerous suicides on a daily basis. Some officers will attend such tragic incidents hundreds of times throughout their careers.

“That is when the Force - the system - needs to step in and provide better support for our officers. And is it really right that some officers are attending multiple suicides in one day, or even across the course of one set of shifts? Absolutely not.”

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