Royal couple express support for officers
18 May 2020
West Midlands Police Federation chair Jon Nott has thanked Prince William for a letter of support to members during the coronavirus pandemic and for highlighting their wellbeing.
Jon welcomed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s letter to the Federation in which they told officers ‘the country owes you all an enormous debt of gratitude’ as they deal with the day-to-day impact of COVID-19.
“Thank you to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for their letter of support,” he said. “For members to have their bravery, commitment and sacrifices recognised in this way will be a real boost to them as they continue to lead our response to the crisis.
“Our dedicated members are working tirelessly to keep everyone safe, and I thank William and Catherine for recognising their courage and commitment.”
Jon added: “I’d also thank them for shining a light on the potential that this crisis has to impact on members’ wellbeing. This is something that the Federation has raised previously and we’re working closely with the Force to do everything we can to look after officer welfare.
“We would encourage colleagues to look out for each other and, if anyone is struggling, we would urge them to access the support available.”
In the letter, William said ‘the willingness of emergency service personnel to work tirelessly to protect the interests of others is a source of tremendous pride for this country’.
“Having spent the last few weeks speaking with members of the emergency responder community, I have heard first-hand about the challenges they are facing at the moment, but I have also been struck by their remarkable commitment and ‘can do’ attitude at a time like this,” he said.
Prince William encouraged officers to look after their mental as well as their physical wellbeing. Referring to his own service with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, he said that ‘even in normal times, emergency responders encounter distressing events on an all too frequent basis’.
“Each day, they put not only their physical health but also their mental health at risk to help others,” he said. “So, in this challenging and unsettling period, it seems more important than ever for those on the front-line to know where they can turn to for information and support.
“I know you take the wellbeing of your staff extremely seriously and I have heard about the helpful services provided internally to your teams, such as occupational health support and employee assistance schemes - all of which will be of vital importance as you support your staff through the weeks and months ahead,” he wrote.
“In addition to that support, I also wanted to make you aware of Our Frontline. It brings together a package of support from leading mental health charities working in partnership with Police Care UK, the Ambulance Staff Charity and the Fire Fighters Charity and offers confidential support tailored to a person’s need and preferences.
“We hope this service will complement existing provision and make a real difference in supporting the mental wellbeing of those on the front-line. I hope you will find it of interest.
“In the meantime, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you and all your colleagues for your work, your determination and your courage. The country owes you all an enormous debt of gratitude,” he added.
National Federation chair John Apter has written back to thank the royal couple for their support.
John wrote: “Policing during the COVID-19 pandemic is something none of us have experienced, but my colleagues have worked tirelessly to keep communities safe and alleviate the burden on the NHS.
“I am incredibly proud of those 120,000 police officers we represent across England and Wales who have selflessly risen to this challenge, despite their own family worries and concerns.
“In this time of crisis, please do not underestimate just how much your kind words will mean to police officers across the country. On their behalf, thank you for recognising their dedication, bravery and commitment,” he added.
