Police chaplain wins the Surrey Police Federation Contribution to Policing Award 2025

1 December 2025

A police chaplain who supports officers and staff through the toughest of times has won the Contribution to Policing Award at the Surrey Police Federation Recognition Awards 2025.

Andy Trevan served in the Metropolitan Police for 30 years in both uniformed and detective roles, before retiring and joining the northern division of Surrey Police as a chaplain. He’s been in his role for nearly a year and a half, and says it is “extremely rewarding”.

Andy’s experience as a police officer means that officers and staff can relate to him and find it easier to open up.

Following a number of tragic suicides in the northern division last year, Andy stepped up his efforts to support colleagues. He can often be found at Staines Police Station, engaging with every officer and staff member (and sharing sweet treats he brings from home), regardless of rank or role.

He is an active participant in the Mind Health Support Group in the Northern division, and now often runs the sessions himself; the group has only been running a few months and already it has offered support to over 50 people.

One example of Andy going above and beyond is that, when an officer was involved in a road traffic collision and was scared to go back on his motorcycle, Andy volunteered to accompany him on motorbike rides to help him build up his confidence.

Andy said: “When I was a serving police officer, there was very little support or understanding in terms of wellbeing and mental health. So now I'm able to give something  back that I wasn't able to receive myself in my service.

“I'm a passionate believer in talking about things. It's really important, especially for men. Being a chaplain is also a signposting role, so I can point people towards the wellbeing and mental health support services that are available to frontline officers and support staff.

“I make sure people know that, as a volunteer, I'm completely outside of line management, so people can be free to talk to me. As you get to develop relationships across a station, you get to know people a bit better and you can walk through life with them, empathise with them.”

When Andy first heard he’d received an award, he didn’t believe it, but then laughed: “Many of my former colleagues might say, well, that's the first time you've contributed to policing!”

He continued: “I feel very honoured – it's really nice to be recognised for something like this, because it’s difficult to measure the outcomes of this role. So the fact that other people think it's valuable reinforces the fact that I'm doing the right thing. I'm very humbled by it, because there are so many people who should be recognised too.”

Surrey Police Federation Chair Darren Pemble said: “Andy goes above and beyond. He has been deployed at late notice to other stations when there have been serious wellbeing issues, and provided rapid support across the division.

“Nothing is too much trouble for Andy, and he is always compassionate, helpful and down to earth.”

As the winner of a Surrey Police Federation Recognition Award, Andy will attend a prestigious Awards Ceremony on 4 December.

The lead sponsor for the Awards is Axon.

Also sponsoring are JMW Solicitors, Uniform Mortgages, Serve & Protect Credit Union, Police Mortgages, No1 Copperpot Credit Union, No5 Chambers, Accord, National Police Healthcare Scheme, The Surrey PCC, Police Friendly, Denis Mulholland Financial Solutions, Phillip Williams, Temple Legal, Slater & Gordon and Irwin Mitchell.