“Home Office frontline review is a gross simplification of issues”

A NEW Government action plan to improve the wellbeing of frontline officers should have included resources and pay as part of its research, says Essex Police Federation.

The Home Office’s Front Line Review sought the views of frontline officers from across all 43 forces in England and Wales about issues such as wellbeing, professional development, leadership and innovation.

However, it was widely criticised for not including pay and resources in the discussions with officers.

The review found that budget cuts and demand were driving up mental illness among officers.

“It’s a gross simplification of the issue if you think that mental health is not affected by the resourcing picture. Mental health is complicated, it’s multi-faceted, but resourcing is definitely one of the many levers involved. To not consider that in the review is short-sighted,” said Essex Police Federation Chairman Steve Taylor.

“It is encouraging to see that the Home Office and other professionals are listening to what we’ve been saying for a while. And it’s good that it’s out there. Mental health is not a dirty word.

“It’s something that is improved with better knowledge and better understanding. You don’t get that if you’re not talking about it. So, acknowledging that it is an issue.

“Talking about it, frankly and openly, is also a positive because that’s one of the ways that those suffering with mental health afflictions can receive support, advice and guidance in how best to do it. Sometimes that’s all it takes,” he added.

Throwing money at the issue is not the catch all solution he warned.

“It’s not as simple as increasing budgets and there’s nothing simple about mental health because, like any form of trauma, it’s unique to the individual and we all react differently to different circumstances.

“One officer’s ability to deal with mental health challenges is completely different to the officer stood next to him, because we’re all individuals.

“The amount of work officers are having to process, the complexity of that work, the number of colleagues available to help with that workload, and the amount of time that officers get off between working and being at home, these are all multi-faceted elements of a complex picture that feeds mental health,” he said.

“There is no silver bullet, no one single issue that you could flip a switch on and resolve mental health. It’s a combination of things. There are ways that we can improve, or at least reduce the likelihood of officers falling over through poor mental health and numbers is obviously one of the levers that’s important in the debate.”