What we've been up to
Police Reform White Paper
“For NPWS, our focus remains clear. We will keep building the evidence base, developing practical national tools and guidance, and working with forces and partners to help make these commitments real in a way that is consistent, measurable and centred on what helps in practice. And, as always, our work will be shaped by the voices and lived experience of the people we exist to support - officers, staff, volunteers and their families.”
Workforce prioritisation replaces the blue light wellbeing framework
Since 2017, forces have relied on the Blue Light Wellbeing Framework (BLWF) to check in on how their wellbeing support is doing. It’s been a helpful tool and has shaped lots of great local and national progress.
But times have changed, and so has policing. Over the last few years, the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS) has been busy reshaping how wellbeing is understood, measured and supported, with new OH standards, a national wellbeing strategy, a redesigned survey, and a stronger insight programme.
All this means we’re ready for the next step. The BLWF has now been and replaced by the Workforce Prioritisation Guidance (WPG).
So, what’s the WPG?
Think of it as the practical companion to the National Health & Wellbeing Strategy, a simpler, more streamlined way for forces to understand what’s working, what needs attention, and where to focus next. The WPG:
- focuses on six key areas like trauma, fatigue, OH standards, suicide prevention, assaults and peer support
- includes a short self‑assessment (no more long forms!)
- is completed by one named Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for each force
- gives clear, board‑ready outputs to support decision‑making
- plugs into a national network with case studies, webinars and peer insight
It’s less admin, more action — and designed to support forces without adding to workloads.
To find out more visit our workforce prioritsation guidance page.
Go to workforce prioritisation guidance
Bluelight alcohol experiment
For the last three years we have been proud to support the Live Alcohol experiment initiative developed by former Chief Superintendent Maria Fox and now led by Inspector Irene Laycock from GMP.
We are delighted to let you know that this will now be available as a resource on the Oscar Kilo website from January.
If you are looking to reduce your alcohol intake at any time of the year, this resource provides 30 days worth of video coaching which you can follow in your own time.
Is this toolkit for me?
If you want to take a short break, cut back, stop completely, improve sleep, reduce stress, or feel healthier this experiment can help.
The toolkit has been designed for 'grey area drinkers' - someone who drinks occasionally, moderately, or binge drinks now and then. If someone is physically dependent on alcohol, they’ll need clinical support first.
The benefits:
- Better sleep and more energy
- Lower stress and blood pressure
- Improved liver function and weight loss
- Mental clarity and focus
- Some even reduced or stopped certain medications.
How to access the toolkit
The toolkit is now available on the Oscar Kilo website for anyone with an Oscar Kilo account, accounts can be created here: Create your Oscar Kilo account
Mental Health Crisis Line
Since its national launch in July, the Mental Health Crisis Line has received and made almost 300 calls, offering immediate, confidential support to officers and staff in moments of crisis. Over 100 of these calls were from individuals currently working in operational roles. Whether someone is feeling overwhelmed, suicidal, or simply needs someone to talk to, the line provides a safe space to speak with qualified counsellors trained in suicide prevention and experienced in supporting emergency service workers.
We know this line has saved lives.
Delivered in partnership with TASC, The Ambulance Staff Charity, the Crisis Line is available 24/7/365 to anyone working in policing across England and Wales. It’s completely independent and confidential - no information is shared with forces or managers, and callers are never judged.
The Crisis Line is part of a wider offer of wellbeing support that we offer, here on the Oscar Kilo website. Officers, staff, volunteers, families, and leavers can access:
- The Peer Debriefing Model Course - a structured, non-clinical approach to help teams process difficult or traumatic incidents and support each other effectively.
- The Supervisor Support Model - a psychoeducational course to help line managers spot signs of mental ill-health, have supportive conversations, and signpost colleagues to help, while also caring for their own wellbeing.
- A wide range of toolkits, films, podcasts, webinars, and resources designed to promote resilience, self-care, and recovery, in our 'Resources' section.
- Dedicated support for police families, and those who leave the service.
Oscar Kilo is committed to helping everyone in policing stay well, feel valued, and thrive - both at work and at home.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available - and it’s just a phone call away.
📞 Mental Health Crisis Line: 0300 131 2789
Operation Hampshire update
Last week we got together for our 26th Op Hampshire national network meeting, with 24 forces around the (virtual) table. These catch‑ups are always such a great chance to swap ideas, share what’s working, and keep pushing Op Hampshire forward nationally.
Here’s a quick rundown of what we covered:
- We talked through the CPS guidance on assaults against emergency workers, making sure everyone’s up to speed.
- We chatted about the annual data requirements around assaults.
- And we gave another nudge about the Op Hampshire peer support training that’s available to forces.
We were also joined by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority, who gave a really useful overview of their processes and the criteria for eligibility.
The Metropolitan Police shared some of their brilliant work too — including their reality‑based safety training for stakeholders, plus how they’re strengthening Op Hampshire responses for more serious or high‑impact assaults. They also opened up a really important conversation about hate abuse and what it means for officers and staff.
All in all, it was another great session. We’re so lucky to have such an engaged and passionate network of Op Hampshire leads — it genuinely drives the progress we’re making and helps us keep improving the support we give our colleagues.
If you’re curious to know more, feel free to check out our Op Hampshire pages.
Looking after you: Small steps can make a big difference
As we settle into the year and find our rhythm again, it’s often around this time that many of us start thinking about what might help us feel a bit more balanced and energised. For those working in policing, where long hours, shift patterns and unpredictable days are part of the deal, looking after our wellbeing can make a real difference.
Our Healthy Living resources are a great place to explore if you’re thinking about making small changes to support your health and wellbeing. They bring together practical tools around sleep, nutrition and physical activity, all of which are closely connected and play a big part in our overall wellbeing.
There’s plenty to dip into, from easy‑to‑follow fitness videos and a nutrition for wellbeing programme, to sleep and fatigue support, including practical guidance and webinars, and our supportive 30‑day toolkit for rethinking your relationship with alcohol - all designed with the realities of police work in mind.
If you’re looking to make a few positive tweaks as we move further into 2026, these resources might be just the nudge you need. Small steps count, and this is a great place to start.
Oscar Kilo at the national culture and inclusion conference
We exhibited at the national culture and inclusion conference in London from January 22–23, 2026. The presence of our OK9 handlers, were a massive hit with delegates. A huge thank you to Fin and Jo Harris and Ariana and Betty (South Wales), and Amy with Eggsy (Avon and Somerset) for their invaluable support across both days.
The conference focused on critical themes including hate crime and identifying missed opportunities in investigations through a mix of keynote presentations. The event drew a diverse group of delegates, including Chief Officers, D&I leads, community engagement specialists and staff association representatives.
What's coming soon
Reset U
Policing has never been more demanding. Our national police wellbeing survey shows high levels of burnout, fatigue and trauma exposure, with real impacts on readiness, safety and the intention to stay in the job. At the same time, forces face tight budgets, limited capacity and increasing expectations around duty of care.
ResetU is one of the ways Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service, is responding.
ResetU is a national, tactical recovery, sleep and fatigue app designed specifically for policing. It has been co-created with officers and staff and independently evaluated through the Police STAR study with Liverpool John Moores University. That research found that people who used the ResetU tools reported better sleep habits, improved ability to manage stress, stronger resilience at work and a greater desire to stay in policing.
We are currently working with some early adopter forces to test and refine the app and we'll be getting these forces together in March. During this session we'll be demonstrating the onboarding process and user experience; there will be the opportunity to meet individuals instrumental to the content and we'll be sharing the long term development of the app.
We are looking at the app being available in all forces in 2027.
National wellbeing survey solutions conference
The National Police Wellbeing Survey has generated unprecedented insight into the lived experience of policing – exposing pressure points around wellbeing, workload, leadership, climate and conduct. However, forces vary widely in their responses, and the service lacks a clear, evidence-based view of what actions actually drive improvement.
We will be hosting a conference on 24 February, alongside Leapwise, and with support from the CIPD Policing Forum and Police Superintendents Association. This event, being held in Manchester, will bring together leaders from across policing who are committed to this agenda and want to understand what’s working, why, and what’s needed to deliver sustainable change across key challenge areas. Through evidence sharing, expert input, and structured discussion, the conference will enable leaders to collectively identify the most promising solutions and develop a clear set of actions to drive sustainable change across the service.
Oscar Kilo conference and awards 2026: Save the date
We are delighted to confirm the dates for this year's Oscar Kilo conference and awards.
The event will take place on Tuesday 13 to Wednesday 14 October 2025, and will include the announcement of the winners of the Oscar Kilo Awards. As last year, the event will take place at Crewe Hall Hotel and Spa in Crewe.
Feedback from last years' delegates has seen us change the event to two full days, with the awards taking place on day one, and the member group sessions being incorporated into the main agenda.
Invitations with full details on how to secure your place will be sent out in February.
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