South Wales Police Federation chair Phil Walker described a Westminster meeting with Welsh MPs to highlight issues facing policing as ‘extremely constructive’.
Phil joined regional and national Federation colleagues for an event to brief MPs about police-related legislation going through Parliament.
The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is working with peers on several amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill on issues which impact on the health, wellbeing, and safety of police officers
Those amendments, tabled by Lord Bailey of Paddington, are:
- The need to officially record the number of police officer suicides and attempted suicides
- A time limit set for police misconduct investigations
- The requirement for people to leave vehicles when stopped by police, for safety reasons
House of Commons
The MPs briefing, held on Tuesday, aimed to highlight the amendments with Welsh MPs and seek their support when the Bill returns to the House of Commons.
Phil joined colleagues from the three other Welsh Federation branches, Dyfed Powys chair Delme Rees, Gwent chair Matthew Candy, and North Wales conduct and performance lead Liz Owen. They were also joined PFEW Welsh co-lead Leigh Godfrey and deputy national chair Brian Booth.
Held at Portcullis House, the briefing was attended by eight Welsh MPs Jess Morden, Chris Evans, Gerald Jones, Ann Davies, Ruth Jones, Liz Saville-Roberts, Chris Elmore, Tonia Antoniazzi, and staff members of Alex Davies-Jones.
Welsh MPs stand with Welsh Federation reps in Westminster.
Phil said: “It was an extremely constructive event.
“It was a particularly busy moment for MPs, with the focus on world events and the Chancellor’s spring statement, so I am really grateful to them for giving their time.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how knowledgeable our MPs are about policing issues, how engaged they were, and it’s something I am to build on.”
Two of the amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill relate directly to police suicide.
Suicide
They follow work by PFEW that found between 2022 and 2025, more than 100 police officers and staff are known to have died by suicide, including at least 75 serving officers. More than 200 attempted suicides were also identified during the same period.
Currently, police forces are not mandated to record the number of police suicides or attempted suicide, resulting in some doing so and others not.
PFEW is concerned that, if forces do not know the scale of the problem, then it will be impossible for them to put in place suitable safeguards to protect their workers.
The PFEW analysis also identified a strong correlation between suicide and officers who were subject to misconduct or criminal investigations.
Branch chair Phil Walker with MP Tonia Antoniazzi – Labour MP for Gower
Of the 75 officer suicides recorded between 2022 and 2025, 47 involved officers under investigation, as did 173 of 236 attempted suicides.
The final amendment is to section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988, to give officers, once a lawful stop has been made, a clear statutory power to require occupants to exit and remain outside the vehicle while the stop is safely managed.
This closes the operational gap created by keyless and electric vehicles, and addresses the avoidable risk members face at the roadside, PFEW said.
Phil said: “As chair, I will be seeking many more opportunities to engage with our MPs and representatives in the Senedd for the benefit of members.”
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