ABSTRACT
Even though a great deal has been written in relation to officer suicides in the USA, researchers such as Violanti nevertheless suggest there remains a need for further study and research. However, there appears to be a dearth of any substantial research into police suicides published in the UK. A great deal of UK literature on suicide generally is readily available – for example, there is published data referring to those in the general community who may be at a greater risk of suicide, such as males within a given age range and those who are isolated – but no parallel information is offered with reference to those who work in the UK police service. In this chapter, reference has been made to the need for suicidal ideation to be correctly identified so that an appropriate response may be made and also comment was made that any research into suicides within the police service should avoid generalisations and stereotyping.
