Merseyside Police, working alongside Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and local health visiting teams, is excited to share the progress of its Safer Sleep initiative – a pioneering scheme aimed at reducing sudden unexpected deaths in infancy (SUDI) across the region.
The initiative focuses on raising awareness among parents and carers about safe sleeping practices for babies, helping to prevent tragic and avoidable incidents. Through joint efforts, the partnership has been delivering practical advice, resources, and support to families, ensuring they have the information they need to keep their little ones safe.
Designed and developed by Merseyside Police in Liverpool in 2023 the initiative, which was the first of its kind in the country, has now been successfully rolled out across all local authorities in Merseyside following a series of promising outcomes. It was born out of a collaborative effort between Constable Craig Walsh, Merseyside Police and NHS partners, recognising that frontline officers often see children and their families in their home environment during times of crisis and are uniquely positioned to recognise unsafe sleep practices and spot risks that may otherwise go unnoticed.
The programme gives frontline officers the knowledge and tools to spot unsafe sleep practices during home visits and make instant referrals to health professionals through a dedicated Safer Sleep notification app.
Officers can then share safer sleep advice to help reduce risks to children and the referral will allow the local Health Visiting Team to assess the situation clinically and provide the necessary guidance or support to parents and carers.
By integrating safeguarding into everyday policing, the programme ensures timely support and advice reaches families when they need it most.
To date the Safer Sleep initiative has:
- Submitted 81referrals since the Liverpool pilot, directly reducing SUDI risk for vulnerable infants. (between June 2023 and April 2025)
- Delivered training to 1,500 officers to help them to recognise and respond to unsafe sleep environments.
- Reached families most at risk, including those facing deprivation, language barriers, and complex challenges such as domestic abuse or mental health issues.
- Influenced positive changes in home environments, such as removal of unsafe bedding and co-sleeping risks.
- Received positive feedback from families and professionals involved, with improved safeguarding outcomes reported.
- Been independently evaluated by Liverpool John Moores University, who have confirmed the initiative’s effectiveness and have recommended its continued development.
Constable Craig Walsh, who led the development of the app, said: “This initiative is a powerful example of preventative policing. By identifying small but significant risks and connecting families with expert support, we’re helping to prevent the unimaginable tragedy of infant loss. So far, 81 referrals have been made through the Safer Sleep app, meaning dozens of children have been safeguarded as a direct result. By giving advice to parents, we can safeguard more children, prevent tragedies before they happen, and influence positive change in home environments.”
Lisa Marshall, Operational Manager for Children and Young People at Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, added: “It was exciting for the health visitors to be part of the service evaluation for Police Safer Sleep Notifications to Health Visitors as they have been integral to its role out and implementation. The outcome of the service evaluation has proved to be an interesting read, and I look forward to reviewing and implementing some of the recommendations.”
The initiative forms part of Merseyside Police’s wider Prevention Programme, which focuses on community-based solutions to reduce harm and build trust. With infant mortality rates in Merseyside among the highest in England, the Safer Sleep initiative represents a vital step forward in safeguarding the region’s youngest and most vulnerable residents.
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