PFEW Conference: Conduct Investigations Need To Change

21 November 2025

The way police officers are being investigated for conduct issues needs to change, the Chair of Sussex Police Federation has said, as the PFEW Conference highlighted the worrying number of suicides while officers are under investigation.

Raffaele Cioffi attended the Police Federation of England and Wales’s 2025 Annual Conference from 18-19 November.

One of the most impactful sessions was ‘Code Zero: Policing’s Suicide Crisis’, where delegates heard from the widow of Sussex Police Sergeant and Federation Rep Ben Websdale, who died of suicide in January this year.

PFEW has written to forces asking how many of their officers had died by suicide between 2022 and 2024. Two large forces are yet to respond, but so far PFEW has heard of 55 officers who took their own lives in this period, of whom 34 were under investigation.

The speakers concluded that forces need to step up the recording of the number of police suicides and provide welfare support to officers, particularly those under investigation, who are more likely to take their own lives.

Raffaele said: “As they said in that session, if 10 officers were run over by a police car this year, something would be done about it. Why isn't anything being done about this? It was really hard to watch the video about Ben. It brought back a lot of memories of what Ben did for the Federation and what he was like as an officer. And his widow made no secret that he was under investigation. There are lessons to be learned from the passing of an officer in that manner.

“And that's why we are trying to persuade legislators to change the Health and Safety at Work Act in relation to how they record reportable incidents. So we can look at ways of working to prevent deaths from occurring. Because at the moment we don't even record it.

“The length of investigations is a big concern. I think the IOPC needs absolute reform; they are not independent, they are victim-focused. The length of their investigations is unacceptable and causes people to live in a world of uncertainty, sometimes leading them down a path where they believe it's better if they take their own life. It's an abhorrent position for them to be in.

“I'm not saying we shouldn't investigate police officers – we need to, but let's do it fast and expeditiously so we can get swift justice. I'm speaking to our MPs about it, and when I give them the detailed facts, they are in total shock.”

Raffaele said it was great that the Conference also took the time to celebrate officers, including Sussex Fed Rep, Inspector Sophie King, who won the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award.

He added: “We also had the National Detectives Awards, which were fantastic stories to listen to. And then we had the Response Officer of the Year, won by PC Blais of Hampshire Constabulary. I'm still astounded by how he found the time to arrest over 300 people in 12 months. Well done to him, he’s clearly a very dedicated officer.”

Raffaele said he was “really encouraged by the commitment” of PFEW CEO Mukund Krishna, who set objectives for the coming year including a Victim and Witness Support Programme. Raffaele also supported the planned Welfare Programme for Federation Representatives.

He said: “It’s good that the CEO has been thinking about the damage that a lot of our Reps carry in relation to the vicarious trauma, the fatigue and exhaustion.”

On the final day, PFEW Chair Tiff Lynch delivered a powerful keynote speech arguing that police leaders needed to listen to officers on the ground when planning police reform.

Raffaele agreed with Tiff’s plea, and added that the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) needed to have more “open and honest conversations” with the Federation, who are the voice of officers on the frontline.

He continued: “I liked that Tiff recognised the work that we have done to improve aspects of our colleagues' working life. And she was unapologetically honest around the state of policing, the position that we are in and the work that still needs to be done. That was really encouraging to see.”

Delegates at the PFEW Annual Conference voted to introduce a £2 per month increase in member subscriptions from 1 January 2026. See more on what the increase will deliver here: polfed.org/news/latest-news/2025/2026-subscription-changes-confirmed-following-conference-vote/