West Yorkshire Police Federation

09/06/2026

A Northumbria Police officer was left in a critical condition after being injured in a collision on the A189 at Cramlington, Northumberland, on Monday night.

Wishing our colleague well

Drivers are being urged to avoid the A189 Spine Road in Northumberland after two crashes, one involving a police car

04/06/2026

Upcoming Family Law clinic for colleagues

03/06/2026

The latest HMICFRS PEEL report into West Yorkshire Police highlights weaknesses, such as high workloads and shortages of experienced detectives, that officers have been raising for some time.

His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published a report today based on a recent inspection of West Yorkshire Police. The HM Inspector said she was satisfied with some aspects of the force’s performance in keeping people safe, reducing crime and providing an effective service to victims.

The report recognised the progress that has been made in several areas in West Yorkshire, including performance management, financial planning, neighbourhood policing and the force’s approach to the use of police powers.

It also highlights strong call handling performance, with emergency and non-emergency calls being answered consistently well and risk being assessed effectively.

However some areas were marked as ‘Requires Improvement’, including how the force is managing demand, investigating crime, and safeguarding children and adults at risk of harm. The Inspector also found some examples of poor leadership.

West Yorkshire Police Federation Chair Craig Nicholls said: “The findings around investigations, safeguarding and workforce pressures will be of real concern to officers, staff and the communities they serve across West Yorkshire.

“The report identifies high workloads in some investigation teams, shortages of experienced detectives, concerns around supervision, and delays in safeguarding processes.

“These are not new challenges, but they are issues our members have been raising for some time. Officers and staff come to work every day determined to do the best they can for victims and communities, but too many are carrying significant workloads and dealing with increasing levels of complexity and demand.”

The inspection also highlights concerns about workforce wellbeing, leadership visibility, and the support available to officers in specialist and investigative roles.

Craig said: “These findings reflect what many officers have told us – that, while they remain committed to policing the communities of Leeds, Bradford, Kirklees, Calderdale and Wakefield, the pressures they face are having a real impact.

“What must not be overlooked is that, despite these challenges, West Yorkshire officers and staff continue to deliver for the public. They are answering calls, protecting vulnerable people, investigating serious offences, and keeping communities safe, while working in an increasingly demanding environment.

“The report acknowledges that improvements have been made and that the force leadership team has responded positively to a number of issues identified during the inspection. The challenge now is to ensure that this progress is sustained and that investment, support and resources are directed to the areas where officers and staff need them most.

“Our members will welcome any action that reduces workloads, strengthens safeguarding, improves investigative capacity, and provides the support officers need to deliver the service that the people of West Yorkshire rightly expect.”

Chief Constable Sir John Robins welcomed the findings of the report and said that the force remained committed to delivering consistent, high-quality service. He said: “Crime is down by 9% and the prosecution of offenders has increased by 25%. We are answering 999 and 101 calls faster than ever and we are working tirelessly to improve our attendance times to incidents. The satisfaction rate for victims of crime is now at 72%.

“HMICFRS rightly highlights the areas where the force should improve, and acknowledges that the signs of improvement are already underway. The inspection also recognises the significant progress we have made since their last visit and, most importantly, the overall performance continuing to strengthen.

“We recognise there is more to do. We are working hard to bolster our investigations and to deliver a consistent high-quality service to everyone who needs us.”

Read the full report at : https://hmicfrs.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/peel-reports/west-yorkshire-2025-27/

29/05/2026

26/05/2026

Overnight Police Officer Pension Changes... Q and A for officers this week.

Police Friendly are running one of their regular “Know your numbers” webinars this coming Wednesday (27 May) from 10am to 11.30am which should help those with questions on the recent Government police pension changes.

The webinar will feature a presentation by Paul Turpin, senior Pension adviser to the Police Federation of England and Wales - and include time for a Q&A from participants/an explanation and update on the latest announcement.

The registration link for the webinar is here: https://resources.metfriendly.org.uk/know-your-numbers-27/05/2026

To see other dates and courses this link gives all of the relevant details: https://www.mpfs.org.uk/events/

25/05/2026

Thug attacked Leeds police officer like a 'wild dog' and told him 'I hope you never walk again'

“It was just like a wild animal, or a wild dog”

22/05/2026

Police officers who have given decades of service to this country have had their retirement plans changed overnight.

This week, the Government introduced new commutation factors for officers in the 1987 Police Pension Scheme following a Treasury decision to increase the SCAPE discount rate.

While the terminology may sound technical, the impact on retiring officers is very real.

From today, officers retiring under the 1987 scheme will receive almost 5% less in lump sum payments for giving up the same amount of annual pension than an officer retiring just last week. For many, that represents a loss of thousands of pounds with immediate effect.

What makes this particularly concerning is the speed of the change.
Many officers have only recently received retirement quotations and benefit illustrations based on the previous figures.

Those figures inform major life decisions, mortgages, debt repayments, supporting family members and long-term retirement planning.

Now, with no warning, no transition period and no protections, the goalposts have moved.

The Police Federation is now seeking independent actuarial and legal advice on:
• the scale and justification for the changes
• whether officers who relied on recent quotations may have suffered financial detriment
• What legal remedies may be available

Police Federation National Secretary John Partington said:
“After decades of service, the ‘thanks’ retiring officers get is this: government quietly shaving cash off a hard-earned retirement overnight. It’s a blatant case of picking the pockets of police pensioners, and we will not let it stand.”

Police officers cannot strike. They cannot freely negotiate pay. Throughout their careers, they miss birthdays, rest days, weekends, and family milestones in service to the public.

The least they should expect is certainty and fairness when they retire.

Members, please check your emails for further information and guidance on the changes announced this week.

Add your voice to thousands who have 👇
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IJTX9mriHUe68V29n-n68x6or_dn_91EhYtIqAFCmSRUM0NKUlVLMTdYQjFUTTNWQzdMNFpXSVVSMSQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

22/05/2026

These shocking incidents show why our Protect The Protectors: Stop Racism Against Police campaign is so important.

21/05/2026

New trauma-monitoring systems will aim to identify and support police officers who are struggling, but West Yorkshire Police Federation has warned they must not “become a box-ticking exercise or another way of monitoring staff”.

In the Home Office’s recent policing white paper, it announced that trauma-monitoring systems will become mandatory across all forces, to ensure the psychological toll caused by exposure to death, abuse and neglect is recorded.

The new tracker seeks to intervene before a psychological breakdown occurs. It functions by scanning the force’s crime recording systems and highlighting “red flag” incidents such as fatal road traffic collisions, child sexual abuse and sudden deaths.

Craig Nicholls, Chair of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “We absolutely recognise why forces are looking at new ways to identify trauma early and support officers before they reach crisis point. Policing exposes officers to incidents that most people thankfully never have to experience: they are repeatedly exposed to human suffering.

“In West Yorkshire, our officers attend these incidents day in, day out, often with little time to process one traumatic job before moving straight onto the next. Over time, that takes a toll. We have officers carrying experiences and memories that stay with them long after the shift ends.

“If a system genuinely helps identify officers who may be struggling and leads to meaningful support, then that has to be welcomed. But it cannot become a box-ticking exercise or simply another way of monitoring staff. Officers need to trust that wellbeing comes before performance management.”

Craig added that trauma and stress in policing needed to be tackled holistically, saying: “Officers in West Yorkshire need proper investment in occupational health, fast access to counselling and psychological support, enough staff to reduce relentless workloads, and supervisors who have the time and training to spot when someone is struggling.

“We also have to remember that police officers are human beings. They are expected to absorb trauma repeatedly while continuing to perform at the highest level under immense pressure. If we want officers to protect the public effectively, we must also protect their wellbeing.

“Used properly, these systems could help start important conversations and prevent officers from reaching breaking point. But technology alone will not solve the problem. Real support, real resources and a genuine cultural commitment to wellbeing are what will make the difference.”

19/05/2026

Remembering PC Jack Cummings, of West Yorkshire Police, who died on duty on this day in 2024.