Leicestershire Police Federation

11/06/2026

Absolutely devastating news as Northumbria Police announce the on duty death of PC Jess Turnbull.

She was 19.

Thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues at this time.

Jess joined the Force in September last year and worked on the response policing team in Northumberland.

Jess was injured while responding to a collision which occurred on the A189 Spine Road in Cramlington at about 11.10pm on Monday.

While at the scene, she was outside of a marked police vehicle when she was struck by a black Mercedes CLC which was unconnected to the original incident.

Jess was taken to hospital where yesterday, surrounded by her loved ones, she sadly died.

05/06/2026

Sad news from colleagues in Humberside.

Thoughts with Kai's family, friends and close colleagues

All at Humberside Police Federation are deeply saddened to share the heartbreaking news of the death of our colleague, PC Kai Bore-McDonald.

Our thoughts are with Kai's family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.

Humberside Police Federation Branch Secretary Dan Haile said: “I am devastated to share this news. I had the pleasure of knowing Kai during his policing career and he was a truly lovely person with an unforgettable personality and passion for policing.

“Over the last few days, I have spent time with Kai's team, and it is impossible to put into words the sense of loss that is being felt. They are absolutely heartbroken, as are his colleagues across the Force.

“What stood out most to me was the incredible courage and strength he showed throughout his illness. He faced it with such bravery and dignity, and he inspired so many of us by the way he carried himself through the toughest of times.

“Today, our thoughts are especially with Kai's family. The love and strength they have shown has been extraordinary, and I hope they take some comfort in knowing just how much Kai was loved and respected by his policing family. He will be greatly missed, and he will never be forgotten.”

03/06/2026

Our latest Leicestershire Police Federation Podcast is available for colleagues to watch now on YouTube.

In this clip, host Royston Martis and Chair Andy Spence discuss £2 million being spent on private security by the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Leicestershire Police Federation is entirely against this plan.

Watch in full on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLRnC6eUNR4&feature=youtu.be

Or listen on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wyhPk9J6vXPek6TxsMfpC?si=KEnxsNaCRTq7XiJfhH7ypw

29/05/2026

Joint letter from Leicestershire Police Federation and UNISON Leicestershire Police to Police and Crime Commissioner Rupert Matthews.

Investment Priorities for Safer Communities in Leicestershire

Dear Mr Matthews,

We write jointly on behalf of the Leicestershire Police Federation Branch Board and UNISON Leicestershire Police to express our significant concern regarding the recent decision to allocate approximately £2 million of public funding towards SIA-registered street wardens.

We recognise and support the overarching aim of improving community safety, visibility, and public reassurance. These are goals shared by both organisations and the workforce we represent.

However, we feel compelled to highlight that this approach risks diverting valuable resources away from established, accountable, and operationally effective neighbourhood policing.

Neighbourhood policing—delivered by warranted police officers and Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)—remains the cornerstone of public confidence, crime prevention, and community engagement.

These roles are not only visible but are embedded within communities, trained to respond appropriately to incidents, and held to rigorous professional and ethical standards.

By contrast, while SIA-registered wardens may provide a degree of presence, they do not possess policing powers, nor do they operate within the same framework of accountability, training, or operational capability.

As such, there is a real risk that this investment may create a perception of increased presence without delivering the substantive outcomes that communities expect and deserve.

At a time when policing resources remain stretched, and demand continues to grow in both complexity and volume, it is essential that funding decisions are carefully aligned with evidence-based policing models. Investment in neighbourhood policing has consistently demonstrated its value in:

• Preventing and detecting crime
• Building trust and legitimacy within communities
• Supporting early intervention and safeguarding
• Reducing long-term demand on policing services

Both the Police Federation and UNISON Leicestershire Police strongly believe that public funds should prioritise strengthening these proven capabilities, rather than introducing parallel structures which may duplicate, dilute, or confuse the delivery of community safety.

We also have concerns regarding workforce implications. The introduction of non-policing roles, funded at scale, risks undermining morale among existing staff who are already delivering vital services under significant pressure. It is crucial that any initiatives complement—not replace or appear to replace—the professional roles of officers and staff.

We wish to be clear that our position is not oppositional for its own sake. Rather, it is rooted in a shared commitment to:

• Effective and accountable policing
• Value for taxpayer money
• The safety and confidence of Leicestershire’s communities
• The welfare and professional integrity of the policing workforce

In that spirit, we would welcome the opportunity to engage constructively with your office to explore how this funding could be redirected or supplemented to strengthen neighbourhood policing capacity, including support for both officers and PCSOs.

We believe that by working collaboratively, we can ensure that investment decisions deliver tangible, long-term benefits for the communities we all serve.

We look forward to your response and continuing dialogue on this important issue.

Yours sincerely,

Andy Spence
Leicestershire Police Federation Branch Chair
Paul Gurney
UNISON Leicestershire Police Branch Chair

25/05/2026

Overnight Police Officer Pension Changes... Q and A for officers this week.

Police Friendly are running one of their regular “Know your numbers” webinars this coming Wednesday (27 May) from 10am to 11.30am which should help those with questions on the recent Government police pension changes.

The webinar will feature a presentation by Paul Turpin, senior Pension adviser to the Police Federation of England and Wales - and include time for a Q&A from participants/an explanation and update on the latest announcement.

The registration link for the webinar is here: https://resources.metfriendly.org.uk/know-your-numbers-27/05/2026

To see other dates and courses this link gives all of the relevant details: https://www.mpfs.org.uk/events/

22/05/2026

Police officers who have given decades of service to this country have had their retirement plans changed overnight.

This week, the Government introduced new commutation factors for officers in the 1987 Police Pension Scheme following a Treasury decision to increase the SCAPE discount rate.

While the terminology may sound technical, the impact on retiring officers is very real.

From today, officers retiring under the 1987 scheme will receive almost 5% less in lump sum payments for giving up the same amount of annual pension than an officer retiring just last week. For many, that represents a loss of thousands of pounds with immediate effect.

What makes this particularly concerning is the speed of the change.
Many officers have only recently received retirement quotations and benefit illustrations based on the previous figures.

Those figures inform major life decisions, mortgages, debt repayments, supporting family members and long-term retirement planning.

Now, with no warning, no transition period and no protections, the goalposts have moved.

The Police Federation is now seeking independent actuarial and legal advice on:
• the scale and justification for the changes
• whether officers who relied on recent quotations may have suffered financial detriment
• What legal remedies may be available

Police Federation National Secretary John Partington said:
“After decades of service, the ‘thanks’ retiring officers get is this: government quietly shaving cash off a hard-earned retirement overnight. It’s a blatant case of picking the pockets of police pensioners, and we will not let it stand.”

Police officers cannot strike. They cannot freely negotiate pay. Throughout their careers, they miss birthdays, rest days, weekends, and family milestones in service to the public.

The least they should expect is certainty and fairness when they retire.

Members, please check your emails for further information and guidance on the changes announced this week.

Add your voice to thousands who have 👇
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=IJTX9mriHUe68V29n-n68x6or_dn_91EhYtIqAFCmSRUM0NKUlVLMTdYQjFUTTNWQzdMNFpXSVVSMSQlQCN0PWcu&route=shorturl

20/05/2026

Police Officers or Private Security? Our latest Leicestershire Police Federation Podcast is available for colleagues to watch now on YouTube.

In this clip, host Royston Martis and Chair Andy Spence discuss £2 million being spent on private security... that money would be better spent on Police Officers.

Leicestershire Police Federation said it was "entirely against" the use of private security.

Watch in full on YouTube here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLRnC6eUNR4&feature=youtu.be

Or listen on Spotify here https://open.spotify.com/episode/7wyhPk9J6vXPek6TxsMfpC?si=KEnxsNaCRTq7XiJfhH7ypw

18/05/2026

from all these police officers who have been honoured in the Chief Constable’s awards

Congratulations all colleagues

https://www.leics.police.uk/news/leicestershire/news/2026/may/annual-chief-constables-awards-recognise-excellence-bravery-and--professionalism/

14/05/2026

A pair of Leicestershire Police officers who placed themselves between an armed suspect and members of the public following a fatal stabbing have been nominated for the national Police Bravery Awards.

On the night in May 2025, police received multiple calls reporting a stabbing in the village of Littlethorpe, just outside Leicester. Two PC’s, both authorised fi****ms officers, were nearby and responded immediately.

Upon arrival, the officers saw a woman lying in the road. The victim, had sustained multiple stab wounds following a prolonged and violent attack carried out by her son in front of her husband and neighbours.

Members of the public directed officers to the suspect, stating that he was still armed with a knife and had entered a nearby property.

PC A immediately went to provide first aid to the victim, while PC B moved towards the address to locate the suspect. As he approached, he observed blood within the garage area, including on the walls and door, indicating the severity of the incident.

The suspect then moved through the property and into the garage, approaching PC B. He was holding a large kitchen knife in his right hand and an unknown item in his left.

PC B drew his Taser and, maintaining a calm and controlled approach, issued clear instructions for the suspect to stop and drop the weapon. Despite this, the suspect advanced towards him.

Positioning himself between the suspect and nearby members of the public, PC B maintained his ground, recognising the immediate risk posed by an individual who had already carried out a fatal attack.

When the suspect advanced again, PC B discharged his Taser. The suspect fell to the ground but initially retained hold of the knife, eventually releasing it. He continued to show non-compliance, attempting to reach for the weapon again, requiring PC B to maintain control using the Taser.

The suspect then stood up and appeared to comply momentarily, placing his hands on his head. However, as officers moved in to restrain him, he became aggressive and resisted arrest.

PC A joined in the effort to detain the suspect, during which he was assaulted. Multiple further Taser deployments were required as the suspect continued to resist and failed to respond effectively. After sustained efforts, the officers were able to bring him under control and secure him in handcuffs.

Following his arrest, the suspect made comments suggesting an awareness of the potential for officers to use fi****ms.

Despite the immediate and life-threatening circumstances, both officers chose not to discharge their fi****ms, instead resolving the situation using proportionate force. Their actions ensured the suspect was safely detained without further loss of life.

Tragically, despite the efforts of PC A and paramedics, the victim could not be saved.

Throughout the incident, both officers demonstrated composure, restraint and decisive action in an extremely volatile situation. By placing themselves between an armed offender and the public, and successfully disarming and detaining him, they prevented further harm to others, including the suspect himself.

Leicestershire Police Federation Chair Andy Spence said: “These officers bravely put their lives on the line, standing between the public and an armed suspect who had just killed someone in the street.

“The suspect had a large kitchen knife in his hand, resisting arrest and assaulting an officer. Taser had no effect on him despite it being used multiple times.

“The officers bravely rushed the suspect and took him to the floor. Their actions that day meant that the public were kept safe and that the suspect could face justice. They stood, bravely facing an armed suspect, not backing down.

“We are proud of them and their actions highlight the brave and difficult choices officers make every day.”

T/Chief Constable David Sandall said: “Both these officers acted with immense bravery in a very difficult and sensitive situation. With no regard for their own safety, they detained a dangerous, armed individual.

“I am extremely proud that they have been nominated for this award and that their courage is being recognised.”

12/05/2026

Tributes have been paid to Ministry of Defence Police officer PC Mark Chester after he died on his way home from work on Saturday 2nd May.

PC Chester was posted with the MDP Portsmouth Marine Unit and previously worked with Surrey Police.

A colleague said: "Mark was an amazing man and friend to many. Portsmouth is much poorer without him now."

The Care of Police Survivors Charity said: "Thoughts are with PC Chester's family, friends and colleagues at the Ministry of Defence Police at this incredibly difficult time."

Darren Pemble, Chair of Surrey Police Federation, said: "Mark was well liked and had a great sense of humour. He was a good police officer.

"All at Surrey Police Federation offer Mark's family our support and condolences."