West Mercia takes steps to record and prevent police suicides

19 January 2026

West Mercia Police Federation is taking a pioneering role in addressing one of policing’s most urgent issues: the recording of suicides and attempted suicides among officers and staff. 

The initiative positions West Mercia as one of the first forces in the country to proactively work towards implementing a system - a move hailed as a critical step toward prevention and wellbeing in policing.

Between 2022 and 2025, more than 100 police officers and staff died by suicide nationally, including at least 70 serving officers, with over 200 recorded suicide attempts during the same period. 

These figures, compiled by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and released today (Monday 19 January), are likely to undercount the true scale of the problem, as police forces are not currently required to record suicides or attempts. Without mandatory recording, policing is also not recognised by the Office for National Statistics as an ‘occupation at risk’.

 

 

Recognising the urgent need for action, West Mercia Police Federation has already held a meeting to establish a system for recording suicide within the workplace. 

Key stakeholders attended, including Federation representatives, the Force’s heads of HR and Welfare, Occupational Health, and the NARPO Secretary. While representatives from the Professional Standards Department (PSD) were invited, they did not attend.

Federation representative Stephe Dyer, who is leading the initiative locally, said: “The figures released by PFEW are stark, and yet they underestimate the true scale of the problem. 

“This is a silent crisis that many still refuse to discuss or are in denial about.

Recording suicides

“At present, we are not recording suicides in any consistent or meaningful way. Recording is not just about numbers - it’s the foundation for prevention. Accurate data allows us to identify trends, understand causes, improve welfare pathways, and protect those most at risk.

“Mandatory recording at a local and national level provides the basis for prevention strategies, cultural change, and ultimately saving lives.”

Stephe also emphasised the wider impact of suicide within policing: “Each death can affect up to 135 other people - colleagues, families, supervisors, friends, and teams. 

“Within policing, this ripple effect is amplified by shared trauma, close-knit working environments, and repeated exposure to distressing incidents.

“Without intervention, patterns of suicidal ideation can repeat. Recording is not about blame or statistics - it is about prevention, learning, and protecting those still serving.”

The Federation is now calling on all Chief Constables to agree to begin recording and reporting on suicide and attempted suicide in the workforce.

This comes alongside supporting Lord Bailey’s amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill, which would make recording and reporting mandatory.

Mental health

Chief Constable Richard Cooper says he is fully supportive of West Mercia proactively contributing to a national record of officer and staff suicides and attempts.

He said: “There is nothing more important to the future of policing than our officers and staff. They are the people we rely on to protect people from harm and help keep our communities safe.

“We know the very nature of policing exposes our workforce to a high level of trauma. This, faced with the individual personal challenges we all face, can contribute to a huge burden of weight on mental health and wellbeing.

“The welfare of our officers and staff is of utmost importance. As an organisation, we prioritise ensuring crucial support is available. A national record will help in understanding the full human impact a career in policing can have and how we might prevent the tragedy of suicide.”

Lesley Williams, secretary of West Mercia Police Federation, has thanked the Chief Constable for supporting the branch’s initiative to improve the process around the recording of suicide in policing. 

She said: “We’re grateful to the Chief for listening to our request as a Federation branch and for allowing us to take the lead on this initiative within the force.”

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