Dehenna Davison MP tabled the following questions in Parliament on mental health and wellbeing on NARPO’s behalf.
Please note that all the questions received the same answer which is below.
NARPO will continue to monitor the Government’s response to the Police Covenant consultation but it is positive that mental health and wellbeing support specially for retired officers will be considered
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support the mental wellbeing of retired police officers.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the long-term effect on a person’s mental health and wellbeing of serving in the police.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the potential merits of including support for the mental health of retired police officers through the proposed Police Covenant.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the effect of the covid-19 pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of recently retired police officers who have re-joined forces during that outbreak.
To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what plans her Department has to offer mental health and wellbeing support to police officers on retirement.
Answered by Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Kit Malthouse:
The Government takes the mental health and wellbeing of our police extremely seriously and we understand that the current crisis will have an impact on all of those working in policing, including those who have re-joined forces to support the response to Covid-19.
We have invested in programmes which offer help directly to police officers and staff. This includes £7.5 million to fund the development of the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS), which was launched in April 2019.
The NPWS has developed evidence-based guidance, advice, tools and resources which can be accessed by forces, as well as individual officers and staff. This helps Chief Constables in their duty to ensure the wellbeing of all officers and staff, by signposting to relevant services and additional support.
However, we want to go further, and have therefore accelerated work to introduce a Police Covenant, recognising the service and sacrifice of those who work, or have worked, in policing and to deliver the practical support they need. The key areas of focus will be physical protection, health and wellbeing and support for families.
Following an 8-week public consultation on the principle and scope of the Police Covenant, we are currently analysing the responses and intend to publish our response during the summer. Mental health and wellbeing support specifically for retired officers, including any additional needs as a result of the Covid-19 response, will be considered as part of this.
The Police Covenant will be put into law as part of the Police Protection and Powers Bill announced in the Queen’s Speech; we aim to introduce the Bill later this session.