Hertfordshire Police Federation

22/03/2026

Devastating news as Kent Police announce the on duty death of PC Bradley Corke.

Thoughts of all at Hertfordshire Police Federation are with Bradley's family, friends and colleagues.

All at Kent Police Federation are devastated at the news of the on duty death of our colleague PC Bradley Corke.

Bradley, 27, died on Saturday following injuries sustained in a road traffic collision as he travelled to an emergency call in Swanley late on Thursday evening.

Our thoughts - and those of colleagues across the county and country - are with Bradley's family, friends and close colleagues.

Neil Mennie, Chair of Kent Police Federation, said: "We are all absolutely heartbroken to learn of this news.

"Bradley was a popular colleague who will be much missed and we will be doing all we can to support his family and close colleagues at this time.

"Policing is a family and words cannot describe the pain we are all feeling and how this news will affect us in the days, weeks and months ahead.

"This sad incident serves as a horrific example of the risks police officers face and how police officers can sadly make the ultimate sacrifice as they strive to keep the public safe."

Bradley served with Kent Police since May 2022. He was based in Tonbridge and spent his police service in the towns of West Kent.

Our thoughts also remain with Bradley's colleague who was critically injured in the incident.

If any officers are in need of support, please contact a line manager, Kent Police Federation or a Federation Representative.

20/03/2026

👉 'OFFICERS ARE BEING STRETCHED TO BREAKING POINT'

New findings that reveal a growing lack of public confidence in how policing is delivered, particularly when it comes to everyday crime, reflects ‘the daily reality for our members’ says branch chair Luke Mitchell.

Luke was responding to this week's UK Tonight: Is Policing Fit for Purpose? which featured survey data from Sky News and showed that while 53 per cent of respondents believe police investigate serious offences, just 14 per cent feel lower-level crimes are properly looked into.

More than a third of victims - 35 per cent - are not reporting offences at all.

Reacting to the findings, Luke, chair of Hertfordshire Police Federation, said the figures come as no surprise.

“These results reflect what our members are experiencing every single day,” he said, adding:

“But this should act as a wake-up call. When only 14 per cent of people think everyday crime is being investigated, it’s no wonder victims are walking away and not reporting offences.

“That’s not because officers don’t care - it’s because they simply don’t have the capacity."

FIND OUT MORE: https://bit.ly/40Ngdxp

10/03/2026

🏇 GAMBLING ADDICTION IN FOCUS AS CHELTENHAM FESTIVAL BEGINS

As the Cheltenham Festival gets underway today, a Hertfordshire Police Federation member has spoken about the impact on their life of problem gambling.

The Cheltenham Festival is one of the biggest horse racing events in the UK, with more than £1 billion expected to be wagered across the four days.

But one officer has revealed how their gambling caused damage to their family, their finances, and their mental health.

The officer, speaking anonymosuly about their experience, said: “The financial aspect wasn’t the worst part.
“That was telling the people who’s trust I had broken and the impact it had on them.”

The officer said it was difficult to pinpoint when their ‘a strange relationship with gambling’ started.

They recalled spending money as a 17-year-old on National Lottery scratchcards, ‘money I didn’t really have’.

“Looking back, the worst thing happened and I won back the money I’d spent and more,” they said. “Maybe it embedded the belief that I wouldn’t ultimately lose.”

Years later, despite working long hours, the officer wasn’t taking home the money they wanted to be able to do things for their family.

At the same time, a betting company was offering a free bet to win £250,000 for correctly predicting six football results.

“What could go wrong?" the officer said. "It was free to enter. I know about football. How hard can predicting six results be?

“I wouldn’t lose anything. I could only gain and the £250,000 would be life changing."

FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/4sDgPBz

06/03/2026

👏 'SPINNING PLATES' ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

For Federation workplace representative Charlie Herod, International Women’s Day (Sunday 8 March) represents the perfect opportunity to celebrate the unique strength of female officers in policing.

As a mother-of-three, long-time business owner and proud part of Hertfordshire Constabulary for over two decades, PC Charlie is no stranger to being relied upon and delivering when it matters.

Having joined the Force in 2004, she can boast vast experience both across the frontline and behind the scenes in the organisation – all earned while growing and providing for a young family.

The latest addition to her wide array of responsibilities came in 2023, when she decided she had something to give to supporting her work colleagues and found enough room in a crowded headspace to become a Fed rep.

The 40-year-old admits her ‘mental load is heavy’ with ‘always something to think about’, but says she wouldn’t have her life any other way.

“When I’m really busy, I’ll tell people in the office that I come to work for a break from the rest of it all,” Charlie laughed.

“Although it’s said as a joke, there’s a level of truth in it, which I like – my relationship with my job has changed, but I’m still loving it after 22 years. I think my Federation role has only added to that, too, because it just gives my work life even more purpose.

“It also gives a good balance to my Force position, because it enables me to stay close to the ground with a lot of frontline matters while I’m based in the control room. So, while it added more to my plate, it’s been a very fulfilling experience so far.”

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4bsjWq7

05/03/2026

⭐ INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY WEBINAR: BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION

To celebrate International Women’s Day, the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is hosting a live online webinar tomorrow (Friday 6 March).

The online session, titled ‘Give to Gain - How Supporting Others Accelerates Your Own Success’, will include a discussion led by guest speaker Inspector Sophie King, who was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Women in Policing Award 2025.

Sophie will reflect on her experiences with coaching and mentoring, sharing how helping others succeed can also strengthen your own leadership abilities and career development.

This event is open to anyone who wants to enhance their leadership capability, boost confidence, improve collaboration within teams, or feel more empowered in their role.

Attendees will come away with useful insights and practical ideas to support both their own growth and that of the people around them.

The webinar will run for one hour, from 11am to 12pm.

REGISTER TO ATTEND: https://bit.ly/4rfPl3Q

03/03/2026

GOVERNMENT URGED TO PROVE ITS SUPPORT FOR BETTER PAY

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell has called on the Government to demonstrate its commitment to policing by backing proposals to restore officers’ pay.

In its latest submission to the Police Remuneration Review Body (PRRB), the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is urging ministers to approve a minimum seven per cent pay award for officers in each of the next three years.

The Federation says the increase would deliver an ‘essential reset’ after years of real-terms pay erosion - strengthening officer retention, boosting morale, and ensuring forces have the operational capability needed to keep communities safe.

Luke said the proposal would represent a vital step towards pay restoration for officers, who have suffered a real-terms pay cut of more than 20 per cent over the past 15 years.

He also challenged Policing Minister Sarah Jones MP (pictured) to match her recent words of support with decisive action.

Speaking in Parliament while presenting the Police Covenant annual report, the minister said she wanted the police workforce to ‘be in no doubt’ the Government was ‘on your side and will support you’.

Luke said: “All too often our members hear assurances and words of support, but now is the time for the minister and the Government to back them up.

“Our members want to know that support goes beyond statements and is reflected in meaningful action."

HEAR MORE FROM LUKE: https://bit.ly/3N4OYuO

03/03/2026

👍 "I'M WAKING UP HAPPY TO GO TO WORK AGAIN!"

When branch member Barry Eldridge spent four nights at the Federation’s holiday home in Norfolk last year, a break couldn’t have come for him at a better time.

For the first time in almost 16 years of policing, previously packed with success, passion and fulfilment, Inspector Barry (pictured) was at a loss with life in the Force.

A chain of events had left him in the middle of an identity crisis, where he no longer ‘felt like a police officer’ and was going into each shift with a sense of imposter syndrome.

Barry was trying to re-establish his drive at work following a near six-month lay-off, caused by a cardiac arrest he had suffered in an off-duty incident. He had the Federation by his side, but this same level of support was lacking internally to get him back to his best – especially mentally.

“I was told the heart attack itself was likely caused by work-related stress, but I didn’t know I’d end up feeling even worse at work once I’d gone back. Having such a big scare to my health was bad enough, but what followed afterwards was just as difficult for me,” Barry said.

“Over the course of my time off, I hadn’t really heard much from anyone in the Force, which left me feeling isolated already. But then, when I came back, I found out there had been no referrals made to occupational health.

“I couldn’t help but feel a bit overlooked and like I’d been lost in the system, to be honest. I tried to carry on and tell myself it was always going to be hard coming back to work after such a big health care and a lot of time off, but I was struggling.

“In a professional sense, I just felt like I had lost my previous self.”

Despite reuniting with individual colleagues, Barry says the only real connection he felt on an organisational level during this period was with the Federation, after branch representative James Stopford reached out to him upon noticing his return to Force duties.

Barry was given advice on how he could improve his wellbeing through the Federation’s Group Insurance Scheme (GIS), which was a welcome morale boost for the 40-year-old.

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/3NfVgYJ

23/02/2026

👨‍🚒 SWAPPING HATS SCHEME HELPS OFFICER CONFRONT TRAUMA

The pioneering Swapping Hats scheme has helped a Hertfordshire Police Federation member confront the impact of a building fire he survived as a young man.

Detective Constable Kevin Coghlan said the day spent with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service helped him take ‘a huge step forward’ in dealing with the trauma of the blaze from 29 years ago.

Kevin (pictured) was just 19 when he was trapped in an arson attack on The Old Barge Pub, which he ran with his father, in the early hours of the morning.

He had been living at the pub, and during the night, a retained firefighter climbed onto the roof and deliberately set the building alight, directly above the bedroom where he was sleeping.

Kevin survived the fire, but the trauma stayed with him.

HEAR KEVIN'S STORY: https://bit.ly/3ZRfRW0

19/02/2026

Branch reps James Stopford and Terasa Holden are the Herts Police LGBTQ Conference today.

Speaking to and representing Federation members across a number of events each year is an important part of the role.

If you're at the Conference today, please go and say 'hello' to them.

16/02/2026

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16/02/2026

ASSAULTS 'MUST NEVER BE TOLERATED'

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell has called for courts to hand ‘the toughest possible sentences’ to offenders who attack officers.

Luke said violence towards officers is ‘totally unacceptable’ and must not become part of the job.

He was responding to figures in the latest Police Covenant annual report, which stated that approximately 115 police officers and staff in England and Wales are assaulted every day.

The figures revealed more than 42,000 assaults on officers and staff each year.

Luke said: “To hear that around 115 police officers and staff are assaulted every day is absolutely shocking.

“It is a level of violence that is deeply troubling and leaves our members with physical injuries and psychological scars that can take a long time to heal.

“Behind every one of these attacks is a real person with family and friends."

FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/4aSefl0

13/02/2026

🎰 GAMBLING ADDICTION AWARENESS INITIATIVE LAUNCHED

Gambling addiction is an often-overlooked risk within policing, with officers particularly vulnerable due to the pressures and trauma of the job.

Despite its potential impact, the issue is rarely talked about, and many struggle to find support.

Now, a new awareness drive in Hertfordshire is aiming to bring the hidden problem into the open and make help easier to access.

Federation representative James Stopford, who is behind the initiative, said: “Gambling addiction is one of those risks that can sit completely unnoticed.

“If an officer was drinking heavily at work or taking drugs, it would be obvious. Gambling is different.

“Someone can sit quietly on their phone and gamble their month’s wages, and no one would know.”

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/46Ev6Fv