Prostate cancer screenings to be introduced

6 May 2024

A West Midlands Police Federation member who pushed for officers to have access to a test for prostate cancer says he’s delighted the screening is to be introduced.

Sergeant Liam Hemmings requested the test be made available after his dad, Junia, and the husband of one of his team members were diagnosed with the disease within a short period of time.

He was inspired by a similar testing programme that was recently introduced in the Metropolitan Police.

Now West Midlands Police has agreed for a number of tests to be made available and will be working with the Graham Fulford Charitable Trust.

Liam said it could potentially save lives.

“It’s great that the Force has said it was going to do it,” he said. “It’s a real positive step forward from the Force.

Sergeant Liam Hemmings and his dad, Junia.

“If we get one person that takes up the test and gets treatment early that saves their life, that’s got to be a good thing.”

Liam began researching prostate cancer in order to support a team member after her husband had been diagnosed with the disease.

“When I started looking at it so I could help and support her, at the same time, my dad then told me and my brothers that he had just been diagnosed with it,” Liam said.

“My dad had the operation and that was all successful. The member of my team, her husband had the operation and that was also successful.”

Liam spoke to his GP about getting himself tested but was told that at 40 he was too young.

“I was a bit taken aback I couldn’t get a test,” he said.

“When I looked into how prevalent prostate cancer was, I realised firstly the NHS has no national testing programme and it's the most common cancer in men with one in eight men being diagnosed, and on average 144 men a day are diagnosed with prostate cancer.

“I thought it was a cancer only old men get but it’s not. You can get it at any age, it’s just more common in men over 50, and if you are from a BME background you are at even greater risk for some reason – even the doctors don't know why.

“It was only the fact I kept pushing and said my dad had just gone through it that they tested me.”

Liam said he would urge all men aged over 50 to get tested, and for people to encourage the men in their lives – such as their partner, dad or brother – to get tested.

He said: “I knew how difficult it was for me to get a test, even though I come from a BME background with a dad who has had it, and realised how difficult it must be for other people to get tested but haven’t had someone in their family have the cancer.

“They’re going to keep getting turned away.

“I thought there must be officers out there who fall into these different categories.

“And with men, unless you’re pushed or backed into the corner you’re not going to go to the doctors to get tested.”

Liam turned to West Midlands Police Federation for support in getting members access to tests.

Jason Dooley, branch deputy chair, said: “It’s an issue quite close to my heart because my father had prostate cancer.

“It’s not something I’d thought about until my father had it, so for Liam to be raising any awareness of it is great."

Liam contacted the Federation for support, who then agreed to speak to approach the Force, with Deputy Chief Constable Scott Green and from Pete Gillett, Director of Commercial Services throwing their support behind the testing programme.

“We had a really good meeting with Mr Gillett, and found that his father had it as well,” Jase added.

“It’s all quite personal. We don’t realise just how many people have had prostate cancer – it’s quite a lot.

“So if we can help just one person, then that will be fantastic.”

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