Police union boss calls for forces to be investigated after hundreds of officers take their own lives

•  A total of 344 police officers committed suicide between 2001 and 2020

The head of a police union is demanding action over the number of officers who have taken their own lives in recent years.

‘Enormous pressure’ from trauma after attacks, demands from the job and distress from long misconduct investigations have led to a decrease in officers’ mental health, a senior official said.

A total of 344 officers committed suicide between 2001 and 2020, with 181 ranked sergeant and below died between 2011 and 2021, The Mirror reports.

Among those who died are Norfolk PC Martin Scott, 35, who killed himself in July while under investigation for alleged misconduct.

Andy Symonds, of Norfolk Police Federation, said: ‘Often [suicide] is linked to the stress of the job… It is ruining lives’

‘Enormous pressure’ from trauma after attacks, demands from the job and distress from long misconduct investigations have led to a decrease in officers’ mental health, a senior official said

Elsewhere, Bedfordshire Polie Sgt Sean Duignan, 44, shot himself in 2021, while South Yorks PC Billy Sampson, 27, took his own life in 2020 while awaiting trial for assault.

A further case reportedly took place in March when West Yorkshire PC student officer Anugrah Abraham, 22, committed suicide while under ‘stress’ and ‘pressure’ according to his family.

Andy Symonds, of Norfolk Police Federation, said: ‘Often [suicide] is linked to the stress of the job… It is ruining lives.’ 

Norfolk Police has taken its cases to the IOPC and states that it is reviewing internal processes.

The HSE said: ‘Suicide is not reportable to us under current regulations. A coroner can refer a case if they consider there is an ongoing risk to others.’ 

*If you need to speak to someone, you can call the Samaritans for free on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org* 

Source: Read Full Article