Hertfordshire Police Federation, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City (2025)

27/11/2025

💐 IN MEMORY

It is now 19 years since the loss of Hertfordshire Sergeant Alan Lovett.

Alan, who was 46, collapsed and died of heart failure while he was on custody duty at Hatfield Police Station in the early hours of 27 November 2006.

“Alan’s tragic death was felt throughout the Force but would have been particularly heartbreaking for his family and friends who were left to rebuild their lives,” says Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell.

“Today we remember Alan and his service to the communities we all serve but we also keep his loved ones in our thoughts.”

27/11/2025

NUMBER OF POLICE OFFICER SUICIDES IS 'SOBERING'

The number of police officer su***des and attempted su***des is ‘sobering’, says Hertfordshire Police Federation equality lead Terasa Holden.

Terasa said there was help and support available for Federation members in Hertfordshire as she urged them not to ‘suffer in silence’.

She was reflecting on the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) conference and an emotive discussion on officer su***des and attempted su***des.

At conference, PFEW called for every force in England and Wales to formally record all su***des and su***de attempts among serving officers. It said the service cannot tackle a crisis it cannot properly measure.

Recent work between PFEW and its local branches identified 56 police officer su***des between 2021 and 2024. Of those, 34 officers were under criminal or misconduct investigation at the time.

Terasa said: “The discussion was incredibly impactful.

“We’ve got a good wellbeing team in Hertfordshire – three full-time staff and around 200 wellbeing champions – and we work closely with the wellbeing team and Unison.

“If an officer is served with misconduct papers, support officers can help with welfare."

HEAR MORE FROM TERASA: https://bit.ly/43SNw4d

26/11/2025

🤝 CHANGE OF USE OF FORCE THRESHOLD WELCOMED BY BRANCH

Hertfordshire Police Federation has welcomed proposals to raise the threshold for misconduct cases involving the use of force.

The legal test in conduct cases for the use of force is to be changed from the civil law test to the criminal law test following a Government review.

Currently, officers can be subject to disciplinary action if their conduct meets the civil standard of ‘on the balance of probabilities’.

Under the new proposals, the threshold will be raised to the criminal standard of ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

It follows recommendations made in the Police Accountability Rapid Review, led by Timothy Godwin and Sir Adrian Fulford, which examined the legal test for use of force in misconduct cases.

Paul Coxall, Hertfordshire Police Federation conduct and performance lead, said the changes were welcome and overdue.

HEAR FROM PAUL: https://bit.ly/3XgDtlN

25/11/2025

💙 MEN’S HEALTH MONTH: CHECK YOURSELF 💙

We've teamed up with the National Police Healthcare Scheme to remind every man to take a couple of minutes and check yourself.

👉 Regular self-checks and acting early can save lives.

Testicular cancer is one of the most treatable cancers when caught early - so don’t wait, don’t guess, and definitely don’t ignore something that doesn’t feel right.

Check out our simple 4-step diagram to learn what 'normal' feels like.

If something feels off, unusual, or worrying? Get checked. No delay. No embarrassment. Just action.

🔵 Have a look at the National Police Healthcare Scheme’s latest blog to see what else you can do to protect and prioritise your health, not just this month - but always.

👉 https://bit.ly/49ExsXj

21/11/2025

🕯 IN MEMORY

Hertfordshire Police Federation is today remembering a Force PC.

PC Ronald Hull was helping an Army ambulance crew at the scene of a serious collision in thick fog in Royston on 21 November 1989 when he was hit by another car. He was 35.

“As we remember PC Hull today and his commitment to policing, we also keep his family, friends and former colleagues in our thoughts too,” says Luke Mitchell, chair of Hertfordshire Police Federation.

PC Hull had four children and his daughter, Katie, followed him into the Force taking the same collar number as her dad.

20/11/2025

Branch chair Luke Mitchell gives his thoughts on the two-day national Police Federation of England and Wales conference in Birmingham.

20/11/2025

SUBSCRIPTION CHANGES CONFIRMED AFTER CONFERENCE VOTE

Delegates at the Police Federation of England and Wales' (PFEW) national conference have voted to introduce a £2 per month increase in member subscriptions from 1 January 2026. This will take the gross monthly rate from £24.31 to £26.31.

In addition, the current student officer 50 per cent discount will end, meaning that from 1 January 2026, all new members joining the Federation will contribute at a single standard rate from their first day of membership. There will be no change to the rate for current student officers.

Motions proposing the subscription fee increase and ending the student officer discount passed with heavy majorities after voting at the Federation's AGM on 18 November.

Find out why the changes are being made and what the extra income will deliver: https://bit.ly/3K7GfGN

19/11/2025

🗣️ CONFERENCE 2025: 'THE TRUE SCALE OF OFFICER SUICIDES IS BEING SEVERELY UNDERESTIMATED'

Policing is facing a mental-health emergency, senior representatives warned at this year’s Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) conference, as new evidence suggests the true scale of officer su***des is being severely underestimated.

The PFEW is calling for every force to formally record all su***des and su***de attempts among serving officers, saying the profession cannot hope to tackle a crisis it cannot properly measure

During an emotional discussion on day two of the annual conference at Birmingham’s NEC, the panel said that inconsistent or absent data collection was preventing policing from understanding the depth of the problem.

Recent work between PFEW and its local branches revealed major gaps in force records. Two of the country’s largest forces were unable to provide any figures, yet the Federation still identified 56 police officer su***des between 2021 and 2024.

Of those, 34 officers were under criminal or misconduct investigation at the time.

In the same period, 120 officers disclosed suicidal thoughts or attempts, with 71 of them also facing ongoing investigations - suggesting a potential link between lengthy disciplinary processes and declining mental health.

PFEW national board member Paul Williams criticised the system: “How can a criminal be arrested, tried, sentenced, and released faster than an officer can have a misconduct case resolved? Officers are left isolated, their routine stripped away, often for years. It's an incredibly lonely place to be.”

FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/3LQy4iD

18/11/2025

🗣 'PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTING REQUIRED TO IMPROVE STANDARDS'

Following Tiff Lynch’s opening address at this year’s annual Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) conference, delegates heard an equally powerful call for action from John Partington, who spoke of the urgent need for reform across policing pay, conditions of service, recruitment standards, and officer protection.

Addressing colleagues, the PFEW secretary emphasised that policing now requires a louder, unified voice to advocate for fairness, transparency, and the long-overdue recognition of the responsibilities carried by officers across England and Wales.

John explained that over the past year, the Federation has made significant progress toward greater transparency and member engagement. For the first time, members received full sight of the final pay offer before a decision was made - a change the Federation described as ‘how it should be: a two-way conversation, not a closed-door process’.

He said that evidence and advocacy presented by the Federation contributed to a 4.2 per cent pay rise, increases to allowances, improved overnight and hardship payments, and a commitment to address critical issues such as compensation for extra hours worked, shift disturbance, and detective burden.

Later on, John discussed the urgent need for comprehensive, standardised psychological testing for all police recruits across England and Wales.

Day one also included discussions on pay and conditions, supporting officers’ families, and a keynote speech and Q&A with PFEW chief executive Mukund Krishna.

Presentations for the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award, and the Detective of the Year, were also given.

Tomorrow’s sessions start at 9.20am.

HEAR FROM JOHN: https://bit.ly/43E3j6K

18/11/2025

💡 NATIONAL CONFERENCE IN THE SPOTLIGHT

The chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) says Copped Enough has returned ‘policing to the centre of the national conversation’.

Tiff Lynch opened day one of PFEW’s annual conference with a focus on the achievements of the opening 12 months of the high-profile campaign.

She hailed the campaign’s first year as a turning point in the discussions about policing, pay, and officer welfare.

She said: “One year ago, we said ‘enough is enough’.

“We told the country that police officers deserve fair pay and respect – and the people have listened.

“Copped Enough has become more than a campaign. It’s a movement."

HEAR MORE FROM TIFF: https://bit.ly/3JHky0l

17/11/2025

TRAIN STABBINGS BRAVERY PRAISED BY CHAIR

Hertfordshire Police Federation has commended the bravery and professionalism of the officers who supported colleagues from Cambridgeshire Constabulary during a recent train stabbing.

The horrific incident unfolded on Saturday 1 November, when reports came in of multiple stabbings aboard the 6.25pm LNER service from Doncaster to King’s Cross.

Many officers - including those from Hertfordshire - responded swiftly to assist at Huntingdon Station alongside paramedics and armed officers from Cambridgeshire Police.

Branch chair Luke Mitchell said: “Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victims, their families, and all those affected by this horrific incident.

"We also stand shoulder to shoulder with our colleagues from Cambridgeshire and the wider region who responded with professionalism and bravery under immense pressure."

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4ra0g0m

17/11/2025

🎙️ PFEW CONFERENCE LIVE ONLINE

A reminder that the two-day Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) annual conference can be viewed online.

The event runs over two days on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 November.

Conference will bring together senior leaders, policing experts and key stakeholders to explore some of the most pressing issues affecting members.

Coverage begins at 1pm on Tuesday and can be followed on PFEW's YouTube channel.

https://www.youtube.com/PoliceFederation

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