Staffordshire Police Federation secretary Glyn Pattinson is urging officers to look after their own and each other’s wellbeing as the country enters another coronavirus lockdown.
Glyn is encouraging officers to be more open about their mental health and to support each other to help them deal with the demands of policing – particularly during the pandemic.
“We are all finding it tough right now, in every force, in every discipline,” said Glyn, “And if now isn’t the time to recognise the signs and show simple acts of kindness, I don’t know when is.”
Glyn has written a blog on the national Federation’s website in his capacity as chair of the Police Federation’s National Detectives’ Forum (PFNDF) in which he said policing needs to recognise the demands and personal impact of dealing with serious and disturbing crime, and highlighted the pressures faced by over-stretched detectives.
He said: “Unsurprisingly, policing can be very grim at times. No officer I know signed up thinking it will be easy but, while we embrace what we face with pride and the overwhelming will to protect the public we serve, it shouldn’t come with the expectation that we can all cope with anything and everything. We can’t. No one can.
“Recognition must be given to officers and staff throughout policing for the constant commendable work they do and their unwavering nerve – particularly throughout the pandemic.”
He continued: “Every detective I know wants to do the best job possible but there simply are not enough of us. Demand is outstripping resources and colleagues are working excessive hours, forgoing rest days, sacrificing time with their families and simply not getting enough rest.
“The sad thing is that this is a normal working week for most, severely impacting on physical and mental wellbeing. It’s hard enough trying to process and cope with traumatic criminal investigations but this is in addition to supporting scared and distressed victims, working with partner agencies, the Crown Prosecution Service, and seeing a number of legal processes through to completion to bring some form of closure for those affected.”
Glyn added: “Officers tend to put their own welfare last and the misconception by many that officers can forget what they have seen once a case has finished and swiftly move onto the next – or rather juggle several cases at once – only adds to the strain. All of this is cumulative and lasts a lifetime.
“We need to get better at supporting each other – recognise when we are struggling, talk more openly about wellbeing and listen. There are sources of support out there, but we need to see cultural change and we all have a role to play in that.”
Throughout January, the Police Federation is putting a focus on detectives.
