PFEW offers support line

A national support line for vulnerable officers has been established by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) and the Police Firearms Officers Association (PFOA).

The Welfare Support Programme (WSP) will provide appropriate help for officers who are considered vulnerable for a number of reasons, including involvement in death or serious injury incidents, suspension from duty, and medical and personal reasons. The WSP will also support officers’ families and those dependent on them.

Richie Jones, a PFEW lead on the WSP scheme, said: “There has been recognition that there are gaps in areas of support that some forces are able to offer police officers and their families in their times of need. This programme is a means to filling the gaps and most importantly to offer a 24-hour service for those officers on the programme to access suitably trained staff 365 days a year.”

He added that the WSP will boost existing work being carried out to support officers by local federations in England and Wales. As part of the overall setup, each local branch board will have a single point of contact who will be responsible for referring officers to the scheme.

Mark Williams, chief executive officer of the PFOA, said: “We are delighted to be working with the Federation on this ground-breaking project, which would not have been possible without Federation funding.

Policing can be stressful and distressing at times. The WSP is there to provide support and assistance.”

The programme is a two-year pilot, funded jointly by the PFEW and the PFOA and is available to officers who are subscribing members of the PFEW.