Police Federation for NI

10/09/2026

💙 World Su***de Prevention Day | 10 September
Today, EuroCOP joins people and organisations across Europe and around the world in marking World Su***de Prevention Day.

For those working in policing, the pressures of the job can be immense. Behind the uniform is a person — a colleague, friend, partner, parent, son or daughter — and looking after the mental health and wellbeing of those who serve must always be a priority.

At our EuroCOP meeting in Cyprus earlier this year, we were privileged to hear from Spencer Wragg, founder of the STEP (Su***de Trauma Education Prevention) campaign, who spoke powerfully about su***de prevention, awareness and the importance of recognising when someone may need support. His message reinforced something we should all remember: conversation matters. Listening matters. Checking in matters.

Today, we encourage everyone across our policing family to look out for one another. Ask the question. Make time to listen. And if you are struggling yourself, please reach out — to a colleague, friend, family member or professional support service.

No one should have to face their darkest moments alone
Look out for each other. Keep the conversation going.

***dePreventionDay ***dePrevention

09/09/2026

Thank you to all our members and those across our emergency services who work tirelessly everyday to keep us safe.

Today, we proudly stand alongside our colleagues from across the emergency services who work around the clock to keep our communities safe.

A huge thank you to Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, Northern Ireland Ambulance Service , Maritime and Coastguard Agency, control room staff, our own officers and staff, and countless others who respond with courage, professionalism, and compassion when people need them most.

09/09/2026

Service urged to move at pace on Conducted Energy Devices to counter assaults on officers

The Chair of the Police Federation Liam Kelly says 850 assaults on officers in the past twelve months is ‘the tip of the iceberg’ and the real figure could be much higher.

Mr Kelly was commenting on a PSNI statement to the BBC ‘Nolan Show’ which covered the number of assaults for the twelve months up to 6th September 2026.

Mr Kelly said: “It is heartening and welcome to see the Service moving to increase the number of specialist teams trained to carry Conducted Energy Devices (CEDs).

“Given the extent of assaults, I would urge the Service to move at pace to complete this overdue and necessary work.

“Our men and women show great courage and restraint when confronted by assailants. These attackers are out to do harm and inflict injury on officers who work to protect society. They do not deserve to be kicked, punched, spat at and bitten by thugs.

“The figure of 850 is provisional and conservative – the tip of the iceberg - with the real figure likely to be higher. For a variety of different reasons, not all assaults are reported or recorded.

“In serious street disorder, a brick smashing into a helmeted officer, but which may subsequently cause concussion, can simply be recorded as ‘struck by object’ and so not reflect the seriousness of the attack. We also know that for more minor assaults, officers are so badly stretched that they neither have the time nor motivation to log or report incidents.

“CEDs not only offer additional protection for officers but they serve as a deterrent and are most likely to make would-be attackers think twice about lashing out and inflicting pain and injury.

“We’ve had officers hospitalised for injuries including broken bones, bites and lacerations. Physical injuries heal but there’s often lasting psychological damage caused by being at the receiving end of a drug or drink-fuelled assailant.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat it again: we need our Courts to stand up for officers and to impose custodial sentences for individuals guilty of assaulting officers. This worrying trend has to be countered and a slap on the wrists or a suspended sentence falls far short of what’s urgently required.”

01/09/2026

PFNI says Courts must tell thugs who assault officers that 'gloves are off'

Seven police officers kicked, punched and bitten sum up an appalling 24-hour period for policing in Belfast.

PFNI Chair, Liam Kelly, said that in addition to incidents at Boucher Playing Fields and Custom House Square, recent ramming of police vehicles can leave no one in any doubt of the constant dangers officers have to face.

Mr Kelly described the assaults on colleagues as appalling and unacceptable.

He said: “To be blunt, there is a terrible disrespect among some people for the men and women I represent who do a fantastic job on behalf of the whole community.

“Officers work in dangerous and dynamic situations, countering violent and lawless individuals.

“They put their bodies on the line when dealing with attackers. They sustain injuries, some of them forcing them to take time off work to recover. They have to confront constant dangers and all in the name of keeping society safe from mindless thugs.

“They most definitely do not deserve to be bitten, punched, slapped and attacked from behind in a cowardly manner. When culprits are brought before the Courts, they should be given meaningful prison terms to let them know there is zero tolerance for what they do.

“Assaulting our officers is becoming commonplace. It is a trend that needs to be halted in its tracks and that requires a no-nonsense approach being taken by our Courts.

“A clear message has to be handed down that assaulting police officers will no longer be treated with kid gloves. There is no mitigation or excuse for lashing out and assaulting officers.”

22/08/2026

Just awful news for our colleagues in Middlesborough. Our thoughts are with the families of the officers and members of the public who have lost their lives in this tragic incident.

Two police officers who were killed in crash near Middlesbrough, UK, named as PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough .

Read more: https://bbc.in/4cY1xlp

20/08/2026

Thames Valley Police Federation is still working hard to try to stop the early release from jail of PC Andrew Harper's killers.

They have surpassed a million signatures on their public petition, which is a phenomenal achievement.

The incredible public support has led to the Government considering a law change to keep PC Harper's killers in prison, but nothing is guaranteed yet.

We are encouraging colleagues, family, friends, and members of the public to contact their local MP and ask them to support changes that would prevent PC Harper's killers from being released early.

It will only take a couple of minutes, but it can have a real impact.

You can find your MP here by inputting your postcode here:
https://members.parliament.uk/FindYourMP

Once you've found your MP, you'll be able to email them directly. A template letter is provided below and can be copied and pasted from here.

Dear [MP NAME],

I am writing as your constituent to ask you to support the campaign to prevent the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers.

I am deeply concerned that changes to early release under the Government’s new Sentencing Act could mean that two of the men responsible for PC Harper’s death are released from prison before they have served their full sentence.

Police officers put themselves in harm’s way every single day to keep the rest of us safe.

They run towards danger when others run away, knowing that there is always a possibility they may not make it home to their families.

Allowing those responsible for killing an officer in the line of duty to benefit from early release would send a terrible message to police officers across the country about how we value their service and sacrifice.

I believe that PC Harper’s family and colleagues deserve better. I am therefore asking you, as my MP, to urge the Prime Minister and the Justice Secretary to make urgent changes to the Early Release Scheme, so that PC Andrew Harper’s killers remain behind bars for the duration of their original sentence.

I look forward to hearing from you.

[NAME]
[POSTCODE]

17/08/2026

With school around the corner Harp and Crown Credit Union Limited have your back with their 0% interest school uniform loan!

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🚌 💰 Back to School, the REAL costs…

As families across Northern Ireland prepare for the new school year, back-to-school costs continue to put pressure on household budgets.

New research from the Irish League of Credit Unions (ILCU) found that 71% of parents consider back-to-school costs a financial burden, while 37% said they are getting into debt to cover them.

💻 And it’s not just school uniforms and PE kits that are costly. Technology (iPads, laptops), school trips and extra curricular activities are adding to the financial pressure, especially for those entering secondary school.

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13/08/2026

We are supporting the campaign to stop the early release of PC Andrew Harper’s killers from jail.

Help this petition reach one million signatures and send the Government a clear message: those who protect us must have the full protection of the law.

Please sign and share the petition today:

Petition to stop the early release from jail of PC Andrew Harper's killers

10/08/2026

This weekend our Chair, Liam Kelly, took part in the COPS Police Unity Tour as part of a UK-wide Police fundraising event 🚲

Along with five other cyclists and a piper, he travelled from our Remembrance Gardens at Brooklyn, to the National Arboretum, Staffordshire to raise money for the Care Of Police Survivors (COPS) charity.

COPS provides peer support to families of fallen officers across the UK.

This year the team from Northern Ireland were cycling in honour of six officers who lost their lives in the line of duty;

• Sergeant Stephen Gillespie who died as a result of the injuries he received on 2nd May 1991 after a rocket-propelled gr***de attack on his mobile patrol in Mica Street, Belfast.

• Constable Gary Martin, who died on 27th April 1981, when the abandoned lorry he attempted to move exploded, Anderstown, Belfast.

• Constable Tracy Doak, who died on 20th May 1985, alongside three colleagues when a bomb exploded as their vehicle passed a parked trailer near Killen, Newry.

• Constable Kevin Gorman who died alongside three colleagues, in an on-duty road traffic collision on 23rd November 2008 in Rostrevor, County Down.

• Constable Stephen Carrol, who died as a result of a shooting attack on his patrol vehicle on 9th March 2009, Portadown.

• Constable Philippa Reynolds who also died on duty as a result of a road traffic collision involving a stolen vehicle on 9th Feb 2013, Derry/Londonderry.

So far the team has raised over £3,500, and you can still donate to their fundraiser by clicking here:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/northern-ireland-police-unity-tour

Well done to all the cyclists who took part – we hope you get rested up! 👏

06/08/2026

Our Chairman, Liam Kelly, also has the honour of serving as Chair of the Board of Trustees for both The Police Treatment Centres and The Police Children's Charity 💛

You can read his update on the charities through his latest blog post:

https://www.thepolicetreatmentcentres.org/news/ptc-blog-august-2026/