Credit: Anderson Photography
The first day of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) Annual Conference 2026 saw a major announcement on officer wellbeing, calls for fairer pay and conditions, significant campaign successes and a commitment to rebuilding trust in the Federation.
The two-day event, titled ‘The Real State of Policing’, began yesterday (Wednesday 21 October). Federation leaders, representatives and delegates discussed the challenges facing officers and the changes needed to better support those serving communities across England and Wales.
Here are some of the key takeaways from Day One:
£2.4 million announced for officer wellbeing
Opening the conference with a video message, Policing Minister Sarah Jones announced £2.4 million in funding to strengthen mental health and trauma support for police officers.
The funding will support improved trauma services, expanded psychological risk assessments and round-the-clock access to confidential mental health support.
Ms Jones also confirmed that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary had been asked to examine existing arrangements and identify where further improvements could be made.
The announcement followed a poignant opening address from acting deputy national chair Paul Williams, who highlighted the pressures facing officers working in an overstretched service.
He described the reality of officers beginning shifts already exhausted, while struggling to balance demanding workloads with their responsibilities to family and friends.
Delegates also paid tribute to colleagues who had lost their lives, observing the conference’s Roll of Honour.
Powerful message delivered by former firearms officer
Rebecca Kalam, a former detective inspector and operational firearms commander with West Midlands Police, told Police Federation representatives about her experience of challenging sex discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the force. She joined to help people, with ambitions to become a firearms officer, a detective and eventually a chief constable, and she progressed to inspector while raising two sons. She said she was often the only woman, and the only woman from a minority ethnic background, in her unit.
After informal challenges changed nothing, she made a formal complaint in late 2020 and later brought an employment tribunal claim. She said the force admitted liability on 75 individual allegations, yet no officer has received a misconduct sanction. She was medically retired in July 2023 after being diagnosed with complex PTSD and generalised anxiety disorder, and she spoke of the toll on her family, including her husband, who supported her case.
Much of her talk concerned the support she received from the Federation. She described gaps in representation and uncertainty over funding, and thanked the representatives from other branches who stood by her. She closed by asking representatives to do three things for any member who comes to them: see them, hear them and stay with them.
Rebecca ended: “You may have 20 cases. That member only has one, and it’s their whole world.”
A call for fair pay and better working conditions
Acting national secretary Mel Warnes delivered a powerful speech calling for fundamental improvements to police pay, working conditions and the treatment of officers.
She highlighted the Police Remuneration Review Body’s description of the policing workforce’s treatment as ‘exploitation’ and criticised the Government for failing to implement its recommended above-inflation pay increase.
Mel called for meaningful collective bargaining and binding arbitration, arguing that officers without the right to strike deserve a fair, effective system for setting their pay and conditions.
She also raised concerns about family-friendly working arrangements, maternity support leave and lengthy misconduct investigations, calling for a modern workplace that values and supports its people.
Reflecting on her forthcoming retirement after more than 30 years in policing, she urged the Federation to continue fighting for members.
WAVES programme launched to support victims and witnesses
A significant development on Day One was the launch of WAVES, the Federation’s new Witness and Victim Engagement Support programme.
The initiative provides confidential guidance and practical support for members who have experienced or witnessed discrimination, harassment, misconduct, criminal behaviour or other unlawful treatment involving police personnel.
Designed to ensure victims and witnesses feel supported throughout often complex processes, WAVES will be introduced through local branches and a central coordination team.
National Board member Belinda Goodwin explained: “WAVES puts the focus back on the person, not just the process.”
The programme represents an important step in strengthening the Federation’s support for members who experience wrongdoing within policing.
Federation campaign delivers progress on disclosure
Day One also celebrated a significant campaign success, with delegates hearing that new national disclosure guidance, DG7, is expected to be published within weeks.
Suffolk Police Federation secretary and chair of the National Detectives’ Forum Ben Hudson, outlined the achievements of the Federation’s four-year #SimplifyDG6 campaign, which sought to reduce unnecessary bureaucracy associated with preparing prosecution case files.
Trials have already demonstrated substantial benefits, including 5,000 officer hours saved in Cheshire and an initial 37 per cent reduction in file-building time in Kent.
Ben praised the collaborative work behind the changes while emphasising the importance of consistent implementation and training.
The reforms are expected to allow officers to spend less time completing paperwork and more time investigating crime.
Rebuilding trust and transforming the Federation
The future of the Federation itself was also firmly in focus during a candid panel discussion involving PFEW acting deputy national chair PaulWilliams, acting national secretary Mel Warnes and interim chief executive officer Gabriel Miland
Acknowledging the damage caused by recent national leadership events, the panel outlined an ambitious transformation programme informed by 49 recommendations from independent reviews.
Proposals include replacing the separate national chair and secretary roles with a single general secretary, reducing the size of the National Board and introducing independent non-executive directors.
Leaders stressed the importance of transparency, accountability and creating a more united Federation that puts members first.
Mel summed up the ambition: ‘This is a Federation that’s worth fighting for.’
The Annual Conference continues today (Thursday 22 October).