Hertfordshire Police Federation, Stanborough Road, Welwyn Garden City (2026)

14/10/2026

🤝 BREAKING THE SILENCE ON MENOPAUSE SUPPORT

Ahead of World Menopause Day, Hertfordshire Constabulary is highlighting the importance of understanding menopause, supporting colleagues and creating a workplace where everyone feels comfortable having positive conversations.

Hertfordshire Constabulary is bringing colleagues together on Thursday (15 October) for its annual menopause event, offering an opportunity to learn from experts, share experiences and explore the support available across the force.

Organised by the Menopause Support Group, the event will take place:

✅ at Force headquarters
✅ from 9.30am to 1pm.

World Menopause Day is on Sunday (18 October), this year, with its theme focusing on managing chronic pain at mid-life.

The keynote speaker is Dr Yasmine Nassif, a chartered psychologist with more than 25 years' experience in the mental health field and deputy clinical lead for the East and Southeast Talking Therapies team.

Passionate about sharing knowledge around women's health, Dr Nassif has led the women's health working group in Talking Therapies since 2021. Her presentation, from 10am to noon, will offer colleagues an opportunity to explore the subject in greater depth, with time for questions and answers.

Experts will also be available to offer advice on a range of health and wellbeing issues, with Police Mutual attending the event.

Rachel Hyde, chair of the Menopause Support Group and a Menopause Champion, said: “We have been so lucky to secure such a knowledgeable and imminent speaker who I am sure will give us such a different perspective.”

“Menopause is a diverse and complex experience, affecting people in different ways. While its impact on women is rightly at the centre of the conversation, it can also affect partners, families, colleagues and line managers.”

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

13/10/2026

🕯 IN MEMORY

Hertfordshire Police Federation will today remember the first female police officer to be killed in service on mainland Britain.

PC Mandy Rayner was killed while she was observing in a stationary patrol car which was deliberately rammed by a drink driver being pursued by police on 13 October 1982. Mandy was 18 and just five weeks into her career.

Branch chair Luke Mitchell said: “Mandy’s story is a heartbreaking reminder of the risks police officers can face from the very beginning of their careers.

“She was just 18 years old and had only been in the job for a short period when her life was tragically cut short.

“It is important we continue to remember Mandy and ensure her sacrifice is never forgotten. Our thoughts remain with her family, friends and everyone who knew her.”

12/10/2026

🤝 FED REINFORCES PIP SUPPORT FOR OFFICERS

Hertfordshire Police Federation is there to support members through post-incident procedures (PIP), says branch secretary Dean Cornish.

Dean has reinforced the branch’s commitment to members going through the PIP process.

He said: “It is important to understand that the PIP is a supportive process.

“Officers involved are treated as key witnesses, not as people under investigation for misconduct.

“The aim is to secure the best possible evidence for everyone involved, while ensuring officers receive appropriate support following what may have been a traumatic experience.

“As a Federation, our role is to support members. We help them understand why the process has been initiated, explain their legal and procedural rights, and ensure they are treated fairly throughout.

“We have several PIP-trained officers who provide guidance and support at every stage.”

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

09/10/2026

🧠 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY: CHAIR SAYS REFLECTING ON WELLBEING 'COULD MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE'

Hertfordshire Police Federation is reminding its members that their wellbeing always matters as World Mental Health Day (WMHD) approaches this weekend.

The 35th edition of WMHD is tomorrow (Saturday 10 October) after originally being founded to create better awareness and understanding around mental health, including increased access to support.

Branch chair Luke Mitchell praised the initiative for encouraging individuals to reflect on their mental health, which he said is particularly important for those who may need a platform to pause and assess how they cope with everyday life.

"Police officers spend their working lives putting other people first, so looking after their own mental health often comes second. The pressures of the job can also make it hard to speak up. Asking for help is not a weakness, and it must never be seen as one,” said Luke.

"Even if you're doing well right now, it's worth checking in with yourself and knowing why.

"This World Mental Health Day, I'd urge our members to take a few minutes to do that. It could make a real difference to you, or to someone else through the conversation it starts."

According to the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW), policing is now the profession with the highest rate of mental health-related sickness absence.

Luke said this reality must be faced by the profession, although he also remained optimistic the mental health landscape in policing is heading in a better direction thanks to various campaign efforts.

“We cannot shy away from the fact that far too many officers are currently not feeling able to access the help they need, for whatever reason. It may come from more of a cultural place, which we still need to improve, or a practical place, if they feel the police support system still isn’t strong enough,” he added.

“Thankfully, there is an appetite in policing to make these things better."

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4yH3JGM

08/10/2026

🌍 WORLD MENTAL HEALTH DAY - MEET THE OK9 DOGS

Hertfordshire Police Federation is highlighting the role of the Force’s wellbeing dogs ahead of this year's World Mental Health Day (Saturday 10 October).

The dogs visit officers, staff, stations and teams across Hertfordshire Police to encourage conversations and help people take a moment to pause from the pressures of policing.

Hertfordshire Police has been using dogs to support vulnerable victims since 2016, while the wellbeing element of the programme began to develop in 2019.

PC Jo Healey, of the Force wellbeing team, said the role of wellbeing dogs was growing.

She said: “The demand is huge and has become an expectation that the wellbeing dogs are ever present.”

Alongside OK9 and peer support, the Wellbeing Team provides a range of initiatives including health coaching, the Wellbeing Outdoor Programme programmes, women's health support and work with staff networks.

PC Healey said the team understood the pressures faced by officers and staff.

She said: “We are a small but mighty team with more than 90 years between us in policing as staff and officers.

“We are passionate about our work, the good, the bad and the ultimate not nice we see in policing and among our teams."

READ MORE: https://bit.ly/4AV9oe1

02/10/2026

🤝 BRANCH BACKS POWERFUL NEW BTP CAMPAIGN

Hertfordshire Police Federation is backing a new campaign highlighting the relentless demands officers face policing the rail network.

The British Transport Police (BTP) Federation has launched its Non-Stop campaign to shine a light on the reality faced by its members.

It has commissioned a powerful new film which moves beyond the everyday image of a police presence on the platform to show what officers actually face: missing children, violent passengers, people in crisis, and the devastating aftermath of fatalities.

Non-Stop is an urgent bid to the government to improve working conditions, support and pay for officers.

Hertfordshire Police Federation chair Luke Mitchell said: “The Non-Stop campaign powerfully demonstrates the reality of frontline policing and the pressures officers are facing every single day.

“Although BTP officers work in a different environment, many of the challenges they face will be immediately recognisable to our own members, dealing with vulnerable people, violence and confrontation, trauma and the unpredictable demands of the job.

“Officers across all of policing are being asked to do more in increasingly demanding circumstances, and the impact on their wellbeing, morale and their ability to remain in the service can’t be ignored."

READ MORE AND WATCH THE VIDEO: https://bit.ly/3Vphawu

29/09/2026

💐 MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATES 'DEDICATION' OF FALLEN OFFICERS

The 2026 edition of National Police Memorial Day (NPMD) took place over the weekend with thousands honouring the memories of officers who have died in the line of duty.

On Sunday 27 September, senior police leaders, religious leaders, politicians and the loved ones of fallen officers were among those present at Belfast’s Waterfront Hall for NPMD, which was the 23rd of its kind in the UK.

Branch equality lead Terasa Holden (pictured) was in attendance to represent Hertfordshire Police Federation and praised the event for providing an opportunity to commemorate every colleague in the profession who has made the ultimate sacrifice.

Speaking after the NMPD service, Terasa said: “This day gives us a chance to remember the officers who didn’t make it home at the end of their shift, and whose incredible levels of service should live on forever.

“It means so much to remember them, because they gave their lives for our profession and for the safety of the public. There’s only a handful of jobs where that can happen and ours is one of them, so it’s very important to make sure these acts of complete selflessness and dedication are never forgotten about.

“For me, it’s a privilege to be part of the collective effort towards that today, and I couldn’t be prouder to be here.”

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

28/09/2026

Branch rep Terasa Holden speaks at yesterday's National Police Memorial Day in Belfast.

25/09/2026

'A HUB FOR THE COMMUNITY'

Throwback to when Inspector Muhammed Islam spoke to us at the opening of the new Hertfordshire Police HQ.

"This is a place for everyone," says Muhammed.
"We're including new parents, there's a reflection room, multi-faith rooms and a gym facility. And it's really important that we have the wellbeing side of things catered for, for all of our colleagues."

Find out more about the official opening and what the new HQ has to offer: https://tinyurl.com/56m278hp

17/09/2026

🎤 POLICE PENSION WEBINAR - SIGN UP NOW

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is holding an online session aimed at helping members calculate and check their own pension.

The Police Pensions: Know Your Numbers webinar will be held from 4pm to 5.30pm on Thursday 24 September.

It will cover:

How benefits are calculated across the police pension schemes
The commutation options available and how they differ
How to use the NPCC calculator effectively
Official forecasts and the timelines for making your pension choices

REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3VdpU8H

Hertfordshire Police Federation

14/10/2026

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