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What are Police Treatment Centres?
The Police Treatment Centres are a registered charity that provides free, police‑specific treatment and rehabilitation for members of the police family who are injured, ill, or struggling with physical or psychological conditions.
They exist because policing places unique physical and mental demands on officers and staff, which standard healthcare services may not fully address.
Where are they located?
There are two residential Police Treatment Centres serving England and the wider UK:
- St Andrews, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
- Castlebrae, Auchterarder, Perthshire (Scotland)
Although one centre is in Scotland, it serves police officers from England, including British Transport Police and other UK-wide forces.
Who are they for?
The centres support the police family, including:
- Serving police officers
- Retired police officers
- Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs)
- Special Constables
- Detention and custody officers
- Police staff investigators (including civilian investigators and CSIs)
Eligibility generally depends on voluntary donations made through payroll giving or direct debit.
Importantly:
- The injury or illness does not have to be work‑related
- Both physical and psychological conditions are covered
What are they used for?
Police Treatment Centres provide specialist recovery and rehabilitation, mainly through:
1. Physical rehabilitation
- Intensive, police‑specific physiotherapy
- Rehabilitation after injuries, operations, or long‑term conditions
- Hydrotherapy and gym‑based rehabilitation programmes
2. Psychological wellbeing support
- Structured programmes for stress, anxiety, depression, and trauma
- Support designed specifically around the realities of policing
- Residential and remote wellbeing programmes
3. Recuperation and recovery
- Short residential stays to help officers recover safely and return to work or daily life
- A supportive environment exclusively for police personnel
How are they funded?
- The centres are not funded by the government or the NHS
- They rely mainly on voluntary donations from police personnel
- Treatment is free at the point of use for eligible donors
Why do they exist?
Police Treatment Centres were created because police officers historically found it difficult to recover in general convalescent homes, where safety and understanding of policing could be issues. The charity was founded to provide police‑only care in a safe, specialist environment.
In short
Police Treatment Centres in England are charitable, specialist rehabilitation centres that help police officers and staff recover from injury, illness, and psychological strain, enabling them to return to health and, where possible, to duty.
Flint House
Flint House Police Rehabilitation is a charity-run rehabilitation centre for serving and retired police officers. It provides physical rehabilitation (for injuries, fitness and recovery) and mental health support (for stress, anxiety, depression, and related issues) to members of the police service and some related policing roles.
Key facts
- Founded: 1890
- Type: Police charity (funded mainly by donations from police officers and their families)
- Who it supports: Serving and retired police officers (and certain police staff, depending on eligibility)
- Services:
- Intensive physiotherapy and injury rehabilitation
- Mental health and wellbeing programmes
- Fitness and conditioning support
- Location: Goring-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England
What it is not
- It is not a police station
- It is not a custody suite or training college
- It does not carry out policing or enforcement duties
Why people mention it
People often refer to Flint House when:
- An officer is recovering from an injury
- Someone in policing needs mental health or wellbeing support
- Discussing police welfare benefits or charities