We have lost another young police officer to suicide.

This comes against a deeply concerning national picture. Police Federation data has identified a significant association between police suicide and officers being subject to misconduct or criminal investigations.

The figures are too serious to ignore.

We call on the Government to:

1. Temporarily pause police disciplinary proceedings, except where there is an immediate public safety or criminal justice necessity.
2. Establish a wholly independent national task force to review cases where serving or former officers have died by suicide while under investigation. It should examine proportionality, length of proceedings, suspension or restrictions, and the welfare support provided.
3. Independently investigate potential failings within Professional Standards Departments or police leadership where evidence emerges of disproportionate or improper actions.
4. Temporarily stop public gross misconduct hearings while their impact on officer welfare and procedural fairness is reviewed.
5. Introduce interim national disciplinary guidelines to ensure investigations and sanctions are consistent and proportionate, with clear aggravating and mitigating factors.
6. Introduce mandatory welfare safeguards for officers under investigation, including regular welfare assessments and access to independent psychological support.

Serious wrongdoing must be investigated but accountability must be proportionate, timely and humane.

Dame Lynne Owens and Jason Beer KC are already conducting an end-to-end review of police accountability and wider reforms are proposed. We welcome that work.

But reform takes time and officers are going through these processes today. Families are losing loved ones.

We are asking the Government to introduce emergency safeguards while longer-term reform takes place.

We should not wait for another police officer to die before we act.