West Yorkshire Police Federation

17/10/2026

One of PC Sharon Beshenivsky’s killers sold guns after prison release

Faisal Razzaq was jailed in 2006 for manslaughter, having acted as the getaway driver in a robbery which ended in PC Beshenivsky being shot dead in Bradford, West Yorkshire.

He was released on parole in 2017 after serving 11 years, and started obtaining guns and selling them to criminal customers while living in Edgware, north London.

He is one of six people to be sentenced later this month at Harrow Crown Court for involvement in a fi****ms conspiracy.

Mark Claxton, Vice Chair of West Yorkshire Police Federation said: "This man has a total disregard for the law and clearly has not shown any remorse for his actions, which saw a much loved police officer losing her life and another being seriously injured.

"Our thoughts as always are with Sharon's family, friends and close colleagues who will be as distressed - as we all are - that this man was roaming the streets to perpetrate more despicable crimes."

Faisal Razzaq sells guns after finishing a sentence for his involvement in the 2005 murder of a police officer.

14/10/2026

The Independent Office for Police Conduct has urged Chief Constables to review their AI policies to prevent officers and staff "unwittingly falling into the police misconduct system".

The IOPC has written to the National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) warning that officers are at risk of "unknowingly committing misconduct if AI policies aren’t fit for purpose, regularly updated, and communicated effectively inside forces".

It follows referrals from police forces to the IOPC in which officers and staff are alleged to have used AI inappropriately and outside what’s permitted in force policy or guidance.

IOPC Director General Rachel Watson has warned officers could inadvertently commit misconduct – and potentially face dismissal – unless robust guardrails are in place to help them.

Mark Claxton WYPF Vice Chair said: “We need to ensure that officers are using AI technology correctly and within the force policy.

“Certain officers within the force are fully licenced and able to utilise AI technology for the right reasons, what we don’t want is officers using it to simply save time on clerical or completing statements and files that are not a true reflection of the facts as this could well lead to them facing misconduct proceedings.

“There is an AI force policy on the intranet under data and information security, which officers need to adhere to before using such technology, the policy details use of generative AI platforms like CHATGPT, DALL-E Google Bard, Microsoft copilot, Google AI and other similar AI platforms.”

Ms Watson said: “There is a risk that police officers and staff, believing they are doing the right thing by using AI, perhaps to speed up a process, could end up being investigated for misconduct because they don’t know or understand what’s allowed.

“It’s crucial all police forces have a robust AI policy in place; that’s the start point and it would be concerning if some forces don’t yet have one. The conditions of use need to be clear and communicated effectively, and regularly, to employees. It’s also important policies are frequently reviewed and updated given the rapidly evolving nature of the technology.

“And AI policies need to be effective, not just a tick box, designed around operational reality with clear day to day procedures in mind. Leadership commitment on AI needs to be visible and training built around how to apply AI in practice, not simply awareness of AI systems and conditions.

“I have met with the national lead for Police AI to discuss the matter and written to the NPCC outlining what we’re seeing."

More here https://www.policeconduct.gov.uk/news/officers-risk-accidental-ai-misconduct-iopc-warns

13/10/2026

Two people have been jailed for offences committed over a two-day period in Leeds.

by Detective Sergeant Robert Kennerley and colleagues

https://www.westyorkshire.police.uk/news-appeals/pair-jailed-after-violent-aggravated-burglary-leeds

10/10/2026

Remembering PC Ian Walker, of West Yorkshire Police, who died on duty on 10 October 2007.

08/10/2026

Neurodiversity and Policing webinar upcoming

The webinar will discuss the challenges neurodivergent officers may face and how they can be supported with the appropriate conversations, understanding and reasonable workplace adjustments.

The session will also highlight support services both within the policing and through external organisations.

15 October @ 10.30am.

https://pfewevents.org/neurodiversity-and-policing

05/10/2026

Sad news as Humberside Police Federation announce the death of a colleague.

The thoughts of West Yorkshire Police Federation are with his family, friends and colleagues at this time.

All at Humberside Police Federation have been devastated by the news of the sudden death of a colleague over the weekend.

Our thoughts are with his family, friends and close colleagues at this absolutely tragic time.

We are supporting his family and fellow officers as best as we can.

If police officers and staff are struggling they can contact a Police Federation Representative, the Mental Health Crisis Line (call 0300 131 2789) and Samaritans (116 123).

01/10/2026

Upcoming Family Law Surgery For Colleagues

28/09/2026

Thousands of police officers who have died on duty were honoured at the 23rd annual National Police Memorial Day.

Members of the police family gathered in Belfast on 27 September, to honour around the more than 4,500 officers who have lost their lives on duty.

1,500 people were in attendance.

The names of those officers who have died in the past year were read out.

PC Matthew Blades and PC Tom Clough, of Cleveland Police, PC Alice Slominska, of Bedfordshire Police, PC Jess Turnbull, of Northumbria Police, PC Mark Chester, of The Ministry of Defence Police, PC Mathew Parker, of Essex Police, PC Bradley Corke, of Kent Police, and PC Faizaan Najeeb, of Northamptonshire Police.

“It can't be underestimated the impact the loss of a police officer has on their family, friends and colleagues and the support and friendship we give each other is essential,” said Mark Claxton, Vice Chair of West Yorkshire Police Federation.

"The role of a police officer is unique and tragically some of our colleagues pay the ultimate sacrifice protecting the public and their colleagues.

"It is very important that we remember them. And support their family members left behind."

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood gave a reading at the service, as did the Lady Lieutenant of Belfast Dame Fionnuala Jay-O'Boyle. And Jon Boutcher, Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland.

During the service, candles were lit for officers in each of the four nations.

Lighting the candle for Northern Ireland was Jackie Gorman, mother of Constable Kevin Gorman, who died 23rd November 2008, alongside three colleagues, while responding to a call for assistance when their police vehicle lost control and struck a wall.

Lighting the candle for Wales was Dorothy Ellis, mother of PC Adrian Ellis, of Gwent Constabulary, who died on 27th September 1989. Adrian was killed in a motorcycle accident while travelling to report for duty.

Lighting the candle for Scotland was Christine Fulton MBE, wife of PC Lewis Fulton, of Strathclyde Police, who died on 17 June 1994, when he was stabbed during a violent struggle as he took action to protect members of the public.

Lighting the candle for England was Chris Prior, husband of PC Rosie Prior, of North Yorkshire Police, who died on 11 January 2025, when she was struck by a lorry while assisting at the scene of a collision.

At the end of the service, the Last Post was sounded, and petals in remembrance of all the officers who have lost their lives were distributed to the congregation.

27/09/2026

Members of the paid their respects to fallen colleagues at National Police Memorial Day in Belfast today.

24/09/2026

Police chiefs cannot dismiss concerns over thousands of officers voluntarily leaving the service simply because recruitment remains strong, West Yorkshire Police Federation has warned.

Vice Chair Mark Claxton said the loss of experienced officers was having a damaging impact on policing and placing further pressure on a workforce already struggling with high workloads, long hours and burnout.

Mark was speaking after concerns raised at the Police Superintendents’ Association conference in Stratford over the number of officers wanting to leave the service were dismissed by the College of Policing.

Figures show that in the last financial year, 4,751 police officers voluntarily left forces in England and Wales - an increase on the previous year.

And three in 10 police officers and staff say they intend to leave policing within the next year, according to the latest Police Wellbeing Survey.

However, Jo Noakes, interim CEO of the College of Policing, said: “The data does show that we are still a really low turnover sector.” Her comments were echoed later at the conference by Assistant Commissioner Louisa Rolfe, Police Reform Lead at the National Police Chiefs’ Council, who said the service had “no problem” recruiting new officers.

But Mark said this misses the point and ignores officers’ concerns about pay, leadership and work-life balance.

He said: “Assistant Commissioner Rolfe might well be correct in the fact that we have ‘no problem’ recruiting new officers, but the reality is thousands of new officers do not come with years of experience.

“Officers have maintained that the lack of experience and retention in the service has a negative impact on policing. We need to retain officers with a wealth of knowledge and experience to assist the organisation in moving forward.

“If we have a police service full of new recruits who only wish to sign up for five years, how can we expect the service to continually improve its skill sets and the way we detect and investigate crime?”

Poor retention also has an impact on those officers who remain in the service, leaving them “stretched from pillar to post, working long hours with high workloads and suffering burnout”, Mark warned.

He added: “Is there any wonder a large majority said in the survey that they intend to leave within the next 12 months?

“The high number of officers with a wealth of experience leaving cannot simply be replaced.”