Read our latest bulletin: September 2025

Published 6 Oct 2025

Written by

Oscar Kilo

National Police Wellbeing Service

Reading time

5 mins

News

Welcome to the Oscar Kilo, National Police Wellbeing Service latest bulletin, read on to find out what we have been up to over the last month and what to expect from us in the coming weeks.

What we've been up to

Insights from the 2025 national police wellbeing survey – First ‘deep dive’ report published

The 2025 National Police Wellbeing Survey was one of the largest surveys ever conducted in UK policing, offering a robust evidence base on the lived experiences of officers and staff across the service.

As part of our role as the National Police Wellbeing Service, we are committed to supporting forces in building healthy working environments and meeting their legal and moral duty of care. This year, we’ve taken a new approach to the survey - partnering with Leapwise, a policing-specialist consultancy to deliver a more agile, focused and timely national wellbeing survey.

New deep dive series

To complement the headline findings, we are publishing a series of ‘deep dive’ reports that explore key themes in greater detail. These reports are designed to be rigorous but accessible and will support both local and national reform efforts aimed at improving police performance, wellbeing, and engagement.

First report: Psychological safety

The first report in the series focuses on psychological safety - how confident officers and staff feel to speak up, share ideas, and take sensible risks without fear of retribution.

Key findings from the survey included:

Only 40% of respondents felt they would be supported if they made a genuine mistake at work.
Confidence to challenge senior leaders is low (18% of officers, 21% of staff).
Psychological safety is notably lower among frontline and junior colleagues.
Key drivers include respect from colleagues and line managers, confidence in fair processes, access to wellbeing support, and trust in leadership.

The report also outlines practical actions that forces can take to strengthen psychological safety, including leadership development, team culture interventions, and improvements to organisational processes.

The psychological safety report is available on our survey page.

Further reports will be published over the coming months, each focusing on different

Go to National Police Wellbeing Survey page

Oscar Kilo Awards 2025: Shortlisted forces announced

This year we had over 90 submissions for the Oscar Kilo Awards. The standard was excellent, highlighting the fantastic work being done across the country to support police wellbeing.

All submissions have now been judged, and we are delighted to announce the shortlisted forces in each of our categories.

Families and leavers category

Bedfordshire Police, Northumbria Police, Police Service of Northern Ireland, West Mercia Police.

Healthy living category

Bedfordshire Police, Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Staffordshire Police.

Occupational health category

Civil Nuclear Constabulary, Cumbria Constabulary, Police Service of Northern Ireland, West Midlands Police.

OK9 dogs category

Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, South Yorkshire Police, Surrey Police, Wiltshire Police.

Operation Hampshire category

Avon and Somerset Police, Bedfordshire Police, Gwent Police, South Yorkshire Police.

Peer support category

Bedfordshire Police, Greater Manchester Police, Merseyside Police, The Metropolitan Police Service.

Staff engagement category

Bedfordshire Police, Hertfordshire Police, Nottingham Police, Warwickshire Police.

Trauma and suicide prevention category

Cheshire Police, Gwent Police, Police Service of Northern Ireland, West Yorkshire Police.

We will be announcing the award winners and runners up at a special event and gala dinner on day one of the Oscar Kilo conference in November, this will be a fantastic opportunity for all the finalists to get together to celebrate the amazing work they do.

WellFest virtual wellbeing festival 2025 - book your slots

Devon and Cornwall and Dorset Police’s Wellbeing team will be running its sixth annual virtual wellbeing festival between Monday 6 October to Friday 17 October. This year their theme is ‘Elevate your wellbeing – looking after YOU’

You can choose from over 30 sessions that cover all areas of wellbeing. Below is a list of all the sessions and links to register for the ones you would like to join. There is also a downloadable PDF at the bottom of the page which gives you more details on each session.

Book your slots here

Darcy visits the allotment: E-book now available

We are delighted to share with you this e-book version of Darcy visits the allotment. You can find out more about the book on our Darcy page here

Video transcript

Follow OK9 Darcy through the allotment on her wellbeing adventure...
OK9 Darcy enters the allotment through the wooden gate and under the tree.
She is feeling calm and happy, mindful and free...
She passes the compost bin, the shed and the woodpile, where the colourful bugs live and rest for a while.
By the cabbage and beans a rabbit comes near, with it’s little pink nose and crooked ear.
“I am Darcy, who are you?”
“My name is Daisy with so much to do, I must hurry and gather food for my families’ vegetable stew.”
Darcy keeps walking to the beetroot patch, where she meets a small mouse having a scratch.
“I am Darcy, how are you?”
“I’m fine. I am Milo the mouse. I have no time to stop, I must get back to tidy my house.”
Darcy looks on and then she began, to follow her nose to a watering can.
Here perches a robin who says: “I’m tired and named Red, and need to find worms before returning to bed.”
Darcy sits down near a big pile of leaves coloured gold, there’s a rustle inside and a hedgehog, curled in a ball looking cold.
“Hi,” says Darcy,
“Are you OK?”
“I am fine,” says Spike, “Now go away”
Darcy wants to help them all, Daisy and Milo, Red Robin and Spike the hedgehog, curled up like a ball.
But nobody will stop, listen or care, and she has so much love and dog cuddles to share.
Darcy sees Ace the old horse by the fence, he will listen and help all to see sense.
“Hello” said Darcy, “You look well I can see. The sun’s on your face and lots of tasty apples nearby that have dropped from the tree.”
Darcy tells Ace how nobody stopped to listen, be helped or have much to say.
“Well that will not do,” said Ace as he gave a loud NAY.
Daisy, Milo, Red Robin and Spike come to the fence, they look tired and worried and really quite tense.
“Hi everyone and thank you for coming here, it’s important to stop and listen you have nothing to fear.”
“OK9 dog Darcy can help you keep well, through listening and caring, kindness, helping and sharing.
“It’s OK to talk, ask for help and support, as there is nothing together that we cannot sort.”
It’s good to help each other and know you are never alone, Darcy feels happy she helped, but it’s time to head home. So she barks a goodbye and grabs her favourite bone.

Events

Throughout September we've been out and about at various national events, including the Emergency Services Show, the Police Superintendent's conference and the National Black Police Association Conference. Members of the team and some of our OK9 dogs and their handlers were on hand to talk about the work we do.

Two images - one of a group of three people, a woman and two men, sat on a stage in a panel format and the second of three OK9 ogs and their handlers at the Emergency Services Show

Mental Health Crisis Line

This is a reminder that our independent and confidential Mental Health Crisis Line has been launched to provide immediate support for anyone working in policing experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. Available 24/7/365, the Crisis Line can be accessed by calling 0300 131 2789.

The line is designed to support people in any role in policing and is not for members of the public. It is staffed with independent, expert counsellors trained in suicide prevention who understand policing.

If you’re in crisis, and need help now, call 0300 131 2789.

Find out more

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What's coming soon

Oscar Kilo conference and awards 2025

We are well on the way to finalising our plans for the 2025 Oscar Kilo conference and awards on 17-19 November which is taking place at Crewe Hall Hotel and Spa, Crewe, Cheshire.

This year the conference theme is 'Connecting the Dots – People, Wellbeing, and Data in Policing'

The conference is built around connection—connecting people, forces, and initiatives to create a cohesive, data-driven approach to wellbeing and welfare in policing. We will explore how individual efforts contribute to a wider national strategy, how data can be used to inform and improve wellbeing provision, and how collaboration strengthens policing’s collective commitment to its people.

Confirmation of attendance emails have been sent to all registered delegates. There are still a few places available, so if you'd like to attend please get in touch.

Wellbeing of investigators week of action

We are delighted to be supporting the NPCC Recruitment Retention and Wellbeing of Investigators Portfolio for the fifth year running with their wellbeing of investigators week of action which takes place on 10-14 November.

Developed and facilitated by the NPCC Recruitment Retention and Wellbeing of Investigators Portfolio, the week of action will involve a variety of daily webinars to share best practice and encourage national debate. Check out what's available and register now.

Register for sessions