PUKDS is campaigning to amend legislation to allow the allocation of funds from the Proceeds of Crime Act 2005. to be managed by a committee under a newly formed National Police Trust, whereby funding is allocated to all police charities and not-for-profit organisations in the UK supporting past and present, officers, staff and volunteers.

In February 2024 Police UK Disability Sport CIC was invited by Police Care UK to Flint House Police Treatment Centre to speak with a number of police charities, who form Police Charities UK. The aim of this conference was to highlight the requirement for sports recovery in the police community and to obtain the support of the police charities for delivering adaptive sports all over the UK. A representative from the UK Home Office was also present, to speak with the police charities regarding a number of topics, including funding opportunities.

PUKDS asked if there was any funding available to support sports recovery, but were disappointed to hear that not only is there no funding for sports recovery, but none of the police charities currently receive any funding from the Home Office or from the government through any grants or funding schemes. In addition, we were told that the Home Office does not have any money available to provide any funding to the police charities, not even for the treatment, rehabilitation or recovery of the officers under its employment.

Coming away from the meeting disappointed to hear that the Home Office will not be financially supporting any of the police charities who support officers and staff through incredibly difficult times, including those that have been assaulted or injured on duty, PUKDS launched a national campaign.

The PUKDS campaign is asking the government to allocate 10% from the Proceeds of Crime money annually to be managed through a national police trust, which could be supported under the police covenant. In 2023 alone, over £339.1m was seized from criminals in England and Wales, just 10% of this money would greatly improve the support services provided to all police officers and staff, serving or retired all over the UK.

PUKDS set up the parliamentary petition soon after the conference, which ran until the announcement of the general election in May. On the 14th May 2024, Founder Gary Callier, Board Member Craig Godsall and a number of PUKDS members, ambassadors and coaches attended Westminster Palace on the invitation of Peter Gibson MP for Darlington, to speak with MPs about the campaign and sports recovery.

The very next day, 15th May 2024, the campaign was mentioned in the House of Commons by Paul Howell MP for Sedgefield which gained cross-party support and was supported by Penny Mordaunt MP for Portsmouth North who forwarded the campaign to the Home Secretary James Cleverly MP.

With the general election taking place on 4th July 2024, PUKDS are now hoping to work with the new Labour government to progress the campaign so that we can acquire the vital funding needed for all police charities and not-for-profit organisations supporting the police community.

PUKDS will now contact all 650 newly elected members of parliament to obtain further support for the campaign.

Elected Members of Parliament

Supporting the campaign

Tracey Crouch

Conservative

Chatham and Aylesford

Paul Howell

Conservative

Sedgefield

Penny Mordaunt

Conservative

Portsmouth North

Philip Hollobone

Conservative

Kettering

Allan Dorans

Scottish Nationalist Party

Ayr, Carrick and Cumnock

Lia Nici

Conservative

Great Grimsby

Jo Gideon

Conservative

Stoke-on-Trent Central