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Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)

Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW)

The Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW) is the statutory staff association for police officers in the federated ranks across the 43 territorial forces in England and Wales.

It represents about 145,000 constables, sergeants, inspectors, chief inspectors, and special constables. Unlike a traditional trade union, the PFEW operates under specific legal constraints and focuses on welfare, efficiency, pay, conditions and professional support for its members.

Police Federation History and Origins

The Police Federation was established by the Police Act 1919 in the aftermath of the 1918–1919 police strikes, particularly in London, where large numbers of officers refused duty to demand better pay, pensions, and recognition of their union.

The government, under Prime Minister David Lloyd George, conceded on pay but outlawed police trade unions and the right to strike due to public safety concerns. The Federation was created as a formal alternative mechanism for representation and negotiation.

Its structure and operations remained largely unchanged for nearly a century until reforms following an independent review in 2014. Rules and regulations were updated in 2017 to improve governance, financial management, conduct standards, elections, and representation of under-represented groups. The core purpose was also revised in 2014 to balance accountability to members with acting in the public interest.

Police officers remain prohibited from joining ordinary trade unions or taking industrial action under the Police Act 1996.

Police Federation Role, Aims, and Objectives

The Police Federation’s core purpose is to represent and promote the interests and welfare of its members while supporting professional standards and the efficiency of the police service. It has a statutory duty to relay members’ views to government, opinion formers, and stakeholders.

Key aims include:

  • Representing members on discipline, diversity, health and safety, welfare, pensions, claims, and other issues.
  • Influencing decision-makers at local and national levels on pay, conditions, operational matters, and legislation.
  • Negotiating collectively on pay, allowances, hours, leave, and pensions (primarily through the Police Remuneration Review Body).
  • Providing training on equality, promotion, discipline, and health and safety.
  • Offering advice, legal representation, and support when officers face allegations, accidents on duty, or workplace issues.

It is non-political, controlled by serving officers, and has no power to call strikes. Membership subscriptions fund its activities, and full benefits (including legal support) require payment of subscriptions.

Police Federation Structure and Membership

The Federation operates at local and national levels:

  • Local level: Each of the 43 forces has a Branch Council of elected workplace representatives (who serve alongside their policing duties). A Branch Board (including Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) handles force-level negotiations with chief constables and Police and Crime Commissioners.
  • National level: Branch Chairs and Secretaries, plus representatives from protected characteristic groups, form the National Council. From this, a National Board is elected as a key decision-making body. There are also eight regional groupings.

The PFEW Headquarters are at Federation House in Leatherhead, Surrey, which also provides training and accommodation facilities.

Membership is open to eligible officers and is optional for full benefits (though all eligible ranks are officially members).

Subscriptions are £26.31 per month with effect from the 1st January 2026. A 50% first-year discount for probationary constables continued to apply to existing student officers but was withdrawn for all new members joining from that date.

Tax relief is available on subscriptions. Special constables have been eligible since 2022.

Police Federation Services, Campaigns, and Recent Focus

The Federation provides practical support through local reps trained in Police Regulations, legal assistance, welfare services, and member benefits such as discounted accommodation. It campaigns on pay, recruitment and retention, officer wellbeing, and operational issues.

Recent activity highlighted on polfed.org includes concerns over officer numbers (nearly 25,000 resignations since 2021), pay awards falling short of independent recommendations, high levels of officers considering leaving the service, and the launch of an independent Integrity Line (operated by Safecall) for confidential reporting of concerns about the Federation itself. It has also sought involvement in police accountability reviews and supported training programmes for representatives.

In 2025–2026 the organisation has been undergoing a transformation programme addressing governance, finances, culture, and member services, including the planned appointment of independent non-executive directors.

Police Federation Fraud and Bribery Investigation

The Police Federation has been the subject of a high-profile investigation by the City of London Police’s domestic corruption unit into suspected fraud and bribery. The probe, described by police as complex and high-profile, has been ongoing for more than a year.

In early March 2026, three men who currently or previously held senior roles in the Federation’s governance and operational structure were arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position.

They were a 46-year-old man from Surrey (understood to be chief executive Mukund Krishna), a 51-year-old man from Wales, and a 55-year-old man from Bristol.

Search warrants were executed at Federation House in Leatherhead and residential addresses in Wales, Somerset, London, and Surrey. All three were interviewed and released on conditional bail. Days later, the Federation confirmed Krishna’s suspension “due to an ongoing police investigation.” The organisation stated it was cooperating fully with authorities.

On the 18th August 2026, four more people including two men (one in his 40s, one in his 50s) and two women (both in their 50s), were arrested at an address in Leatherhead, Surrey. This included two serving police officers.

All four were questioned on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position of trust. One of the women and the man in his 50s were also held on suspicion of bribery and fraud by failing to disclose information. They were taken to a police station for questioning. This brought the total number of arrests in the investigation to seven.

Detective Superintendent Jim Halkett of the City of London Police said the investigation “continues to make significant progress, with officers working through a number of lines of inquiry to establish the full facts and circumstances surrounding this case.” No specific financial amounts have been publicly detailed in relation to the current investigation, and no charges have been reported at the time of writing. The case remains active.

Conclusion

The Police Federation of England and Wales continues to serve as the primary voice for the vast majority of frontline officers in England and Wales, balancing statutory representation with practical support on the issues that affect officers’ working lives.

While it navigates ongoing challenges around pay, retention, and internal governance which includes the active fraud investigation, it remains a key institution in British policing, rooted in more than a century of history and focused on both member welfare and the efficiency of the service.

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[post_title] was last updated on the 19th August 2026

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