What it is
Operation Hampshire is the national policing strategy for supporting officers and staff who are victims of work-related assaults, threats, or abuse. It recognises the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of being harmed while carrying out your duties and sets out a compassionate, consistent approach to response.
But this work isn’t just reactive - it’s preventative too. The strategy aims to reduce the likelihood of assaults, stop repeat victimisation, and design out risk wherever possible. That could mean changes to equipment, behaviours, culture, training, or deployment. At its heart, Operation Hampshire reinforces a core principle: violence should never be accepted as ‘part of the job.’
Why it matters
There are over 40,000 recorded assaults on police officers and staff each year, that’s more than 100 every day. These incidents cause real harm, both physically and mentally. They affect confidence, trust, and morale, and leave lasting effects on individuals and teams.
Forces have a duty to respond well when people are harmed, and a responsibility to act to reduce the risk of harm in the first place. Operation Hampshire helps forces do both. By embedding a clear framework for response, prevention, and support, forces can protect their people, promote cultural change, and build public trust.
Adopt and embed the Operation Hampshire strategy
All forces must formally adopt the national strategy and integrate it into their policy, governance, and operational delivery.
Go to Operation Hampshire
The Operation Hampshire strategy includes:
Senior-level governance
Clear strategic ownership, with implementation supported from senior leadership through to frontline supervisors.
Daily management and quality assurance
Systems to track, monitor, and improve delivery.
National network participation
Forces should nominate a representative to join the national Operation Hampshire network and share learning and best practice.
Data collection
Processes to meet the Home Office annual data requirement (ADR) on police assaults.
Victim information and advice
Clear, accessible guidance for officers and staff on what to expect if they experience an assault.
Using data to prevent future harm:
Assault trends should be monitored and shared with operational leaders to inform better understand risk and vulnerability and to inform training, equipment, and tactical decisions. Should include the ability to monitor for repeat victims.
Supervisor training
Frontline supervisors should receive dedicated Operation Hampshire training to help them respond confidently and supportively.
Repeat victim processes
The ability to monitor for repeat victims and ensure additional support is available taking the impact and effect into consideration
Champion networks and cultural leads
Develop local networks of Op Hampshire champions to promote the strategy, gather feedback, and encourage reporting.
Peer debriefing model course
Structured peer debriefing to support those exposed to traumatic or violent incidents.
Go to peer debriefing model course
Op Hampshire peer support champions
Local champions who act as a secondary contact for victims, quality assure the initial response, and offer support or escalate further needs.
Campaigns to challenge the normalisation of assaults
Forces may run internal or public campaigns to reinforce that violence is not an accepted part of the job and encourage a culture of reporting.
Self-care and resilience resources
Advice on managing stress and building personal resilience.
Purpose film
Follows new recruit ‘Alfie’ and explores the emotional responses to trauma, including assault. Includes wraparound resources by Fortis Therapy.
National Operation Hampshire coordinator:
- Offers strategic guidance and support across forces
- Develops national consistency in response
- Leads a national knowledge-sharing network
- Provides training materials, briefings, and campaign content
- Supports forces in supervisor training and policy design
Or, visit other sections in our workforce prioritisation guidance: