Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps her Department is taking to support the mental welfare of officers in the Greater Manchester Police Service.

The Government recognises the importance of police welfare. In October 2014 we allocated £10m to help support emergency services personnel and volunteers, focused on mental health, physical recuperation and bereavement support for those who need it. Policing, by its nature, can be a stressful and demanding job and it is the responsibility of chief officers, supported by the College of Policing, to ensure that good management systems are in place to support police in their work.

The Home Office is working with the national policing lead on wellbeing and engagement on the development of his strategy but this must remain a sector led initiative.