Police Care UK Trustee Steve Wilcock understands the human cost of policing and the lasting impact the demands of the Job can have on those who serve.
The 58-year-old brings 33 years of service with West Midlands Police and Greater Manchester Police, alongside time as a Major Account Manager with Securicor, and has seen first-hand the realities of policing.
That experience, together with a strong commitment to supporting people as they transition from the Job, is what led him to volunteer his time with Police Care UK alongside his current role as Deputy Chief Executive at the National Association for Retired Police Officers (NARPO).
“As with other cops, I’ve seen things you wouldn’t normally see as members of the public,” he says.
“And I’ve also seen the impact it’s probably had on a lot of my colleagues – anecdotally – and on a lot of people who leave the force.
“I’m happy giving up my time and volunteering, but I’ve got to feel it’s worthwhile me being involved and, more importantly, it’s got to be something I believe in.
“I vehemently believe in Police Care UK, what they do and the services they provide. ”
A near-death experience in 2023, when a perforated colon led to sepsis and a three-week stay in hospital, marked the end of Steve’s policing service.
Today, it is his desire to give back to former colleagues, and his empathy for those leaving the force, that keeps him connected to the police family.
Police Care UK provides specialist trauma support and financial assistance to serving and former police staff, volunteers and officers who have been physically or psychologically harmed through policing.
As a trustee, Steve helps make sure that those who are struggling know they are not alone and can access support both during service and long after retirement.
He also believes it is important to help people better understand the physical and psychological impact policing can have on those working on the frontline.
“People don’t understand what the Job does to people. They don’t realise how much it breaks them,” says Steve, who admits he still misses the cut and thrust of the police chase.
“If you imagine resilience as a bucket of water, and, when you see a traumatic incident, you lose a cup full from the bucket.
“When you see traumatic incident after traumatic incident or experience stress after stress after stress, the bucket very quickly empties, doesn’t it?
He continues: “We all appreciate the role of cops do, but we probably don’t appreciate how human cops are.
“When you’ve got 100 people, you’ll generally see 98 run away from danger and two run towards it.
“The two running towards it are human, they’ve got families, they’ve got parents, they’ve got children, they’ve got brothers, sisters and kids.
“They’re like anybody else, they’re susceptible to trauma.”
This Volunteers’ Week, we’re recognising the vital contribution volunteers make to our work and to our ability to provide life-changing specialist trauma support to people who have been physically or psychologically harmed through policing.
In 2025, volunteers gave 580 hours across 36 events, saving Police Care UK thousands and helping us do even more for the people we support.
If Steve’s story resonates with you, we have a range of volunteering roles that can help us ensure no one in policing feels they have to cope alone. Find out more here > www.policecare.org.uk.
