Members of the police across the UK suffer physical and psychological harm every day. Some have paid the ultimate price. Recent research published by Police Care UK has revealed that more than 90% of police officers will be exposed to repeated traumatic incidents during their career, and that 1 in 5 serving police personnel are currently living with symptoms of PTSD. Police Care UK provide practical, emotional, and financial support, to serving and former police officers, police staff, police volunteers and their immediate families, who have suffered ‘harm’ as a result of policing and we want everyone to understand the risk they face.
Police Care UK is a national organisation, operating from its head office in Surrey. It is the new name for the Police Dependants Trust (1966) following a merger with The National Police Fund (1926) following a rebrand in early 2019. It is entirely independent and confidential and receives no state funding, and no funding from any police force. It has approximately 18 staff members and 100 volunteers across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Police Care UK have three simple aims:
Since 2016 it has made over £3m in grants to assist serving and veteran police colleagues and their families, who have suffered harm through their police work, to rebuild their lives.
Most recently, Police Care UK and the Police Treatment Centres have recently established a psychological wellbeing centre of excellence to better care for those who suffer psychological harm because of their policing role, which will be built at the Police Treatment Centres, St Andrews site in Harrogate, and will be a national specialist facility to support all regions of the UK.
Officers, staff, and volunteers can access assistance from the charity for themselves or a colleague (although they must have consent) by visiting: www.policecare.org.uk, emailing: hello@policecare.org.uk or calling: 0300 012 0030, during weekday office hours.