PFEW Conference opens with a clear message that policing needs change
22 October 2026
A £2.4 million boost for officer wellbeing, a powerful demand for fair pay and a commitment to rebuilding the Police Federation were among the headline moments as the PFEW Annual Conference 2026 got underway.
The opening day of the Conference, held on Wednesday 21 October, brought the realities of modern policing into sharp focus.
Under the banner ‘The Real State of Policing’, delegates heard about the pressures officers face, the need for stronger workplace protections and the progress being made to deliver practical improvements.
Policing Minister Sarah Jones addresses day one of the 2026 PFEW conference
Picture credit: Anderson Photography
£2.4 million investment in mental health support
The Conference began with a major announcement from Policing Minister Sarah Jones, who confirmed £2.4 million in funding to strengthen mental health and trauma support for police officers.
The money will support improved trauma services, wider psychological risk assessments and confidential mental health assistance available 24 hours a day.
His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary will also examine current arrangements to identify where support can be strengthened.
The announcement came as acting deputy national chair Paul Williams delivered a powerful reminder of the human cost of policing.
He described officers beginning shifts already exhausted, struggling with relentless demands and trying to balance their responsibilities to the public with those to their families.
The opening session also included a moving Roll of Honour, remembering colleagues who had lost their lives.
“That member only has one case, and it’s their whole world”
Former West Midlands Police detective inspector and operational firearms commander Rebecca Kalam delivered one of the day's most compelling addresses.
Speaking openly about her experiences of sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation, she described the consequences of challenging wrongdoing within her force.
Rebecca explained how her case progressed from informal concerns to a formal complaint and employment tribunal proceedings.
She said West Midlands Police admitted liability on 75 allegations, yet no officer had received a misconduct sanction.
The experience had a devastating impact on her wellbeing and family life, and she was medically retired in July 2023 after being diagnosed with complex PTSD and generalised anxiety disorder.
She also spoke candidly about shortcomings in the Federation support she received, while thanking individual representatives who stood by her.
Her challenge to delegates was simple but powerful: see the member, hear the member and stay with the member.
“You may have 20 cases. That member only has one, and it’s their whole world.”
Pay and conditions: officers deserve better
Acting national secretary Mel Warnes delivered an uncompromising message about the need to improve police pay and working conditions.
Highlighting the Police Remuneration Review Body's use of the word ‘exploitation’ to describe the treatment of the workforce, she challenged the Government's failure to implement its recommended above-inflation pay award.
Mel argued that officers should not be left without meaningful influence over their pay, particularly when they are denied the right to strike.
She renewed calls for collective bargaining and binding arbitration, alongside better family-friendly policies, maternity support leave and fairer misconduct processes.
As she prepares to retire following more than 30 years of service, her message was one of determination: the fight for fair treatment must continue.
WAVES: putting people before process
A new programme designed to support members who experience or witness wrongdoing was officially launched.
WAVES - Witness and Victim Engagement Support - will offer confidential guidance and practical help to officers affected by discrimination, harassment, misconduct, criminal behaviour and other unlawful treatment involving police personnel.
Working through local branches and a central coordination team, the initiative aims to ensure members are not left navigating difficult processes alone.
National Board member Belinda Goodwin summed up the approach: “WAVES puts the focus back on the person, not just the process.”
Less paperwork, more policing
There was also positive news for detectives and investigators, with the Federation's #SimplifyDG6 campaign delivering tangible progress.
After four years of campaigning to reduce unnecessary disclosure bureaucracy, new national guidance, DG7, is expected within weeks.
Ben Hudson, Suffolk Police Federation secretary and chair of the National Detectives' Forum, highlighted promising trial results.
In Cheshire, changes have saved 5,000 officer hours, while Kent has recorded an initial 37 per cent reduction in file-building time.
The reforms have the potential to free up valuable time for investigations, although Ben stressed that training and consistent implementation will be critical.
A Federation determined to rebuild
The day also featured a frank discussion about the future of PFEW.
Acting deputy national chair Paul Williams, acting national secretary Mel Warnes and interim chief executive officer Gabriel Miland acknowledged the damage caused by recent national leadership events.
They outlined a programme of organisational reform shaped by 49 recommendations from independent reviews.
Proposed changes include combining the national chair and secretary positions into a single general secretary role, creating a smaller National Board and bringing independent non-executive directors into the organisation.
The ambition is to restore confidence, strengthen accountability and ensure members remain at the heart of Federation decision-making.
Mel concluded with a message of belief in the organisation's future: “This is a Federation that's worth fighting for.”
The PFEW Annual Conference continues on Thursday 22 October.
READ MORE: £2.4 million for officer wellbeing announced as PFEW Conference opens.
