Response Policing ‘Week of Action’ will highlight the work of Response Officers

The date marks the beginning of the second National Response Policing ‘Week of Action’, which in addition to celebrating the professionalism and courage of Response Officers, it is also an opportunity to recognise the challenges facing Response Policing and consider the future development of a key role that sits at the heart of policing.

The NPCC has worked with Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service (NPWS), the College of Policing and the Police Federation, to deliver a range of initiatives, co-ordinated specifically to support, develop and recognise the role of Response Officers.

Wellbeing vans and dogs will be deployed across the UK, along with a series of Oscar Kilo webinars around sleep, fatigue and resilience.

National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for Response Policing, T/Deputy Chief Constable Rob Carden said:

“The Response Week of Action provides an opportunity for all forces to highlight the vital role that Response Officers play in protecting the public and keeping communities safe.

"In addition to celebrating the professionalism and courage of Response Officers, it is also an opportunity to recognise the challenges they face and consider the development of a key role that sits at the heart of policing.

"This week is an opportunity to put a spotlight on police officers who are often the youngest in service, the first to respond to danger and often the first police officer that members of the public come into contact with.

"It is imperative that we recognise the value of this role and the officers upon whom this responsibility rests.”

Officers in response teams never know what situations they’ll be faced with when they come into work each day. They have to be prepared to deal with a wide range of incidents, including complex and sometimes confrontational situations. No two days are the same, and officers in these roles come from many different backgrounds and work in a variety of environments. This week will seek to raise awareness of this important area of policing.

Ch Supt Chris Gibson, said:

“I am very proud to Support T/ DCC Carden’s NPCC Response Policing Portfolio as the Wellbeing and Resilience workstream lead.

"I am privileged to have worked alongside Response officers throughout my career and I am passionate about supporting and recognising our frontline responders and ensuring that the very valuable role that they perform in policing is recognised as a specialism in its own right.

"The NPCC Response Wellbeing and Resilience workstream group is responsible for coordinating national activity during the Response Policing Week and collaborating with key stakeholders such as The College of Policing and Oscar Kilo to support Response officers all year round.

"Throughout the year we work very hard to engage and seek feedback from frontline responders to ensure that the week of action is practitioner led and provides a voice to response officers in order to contribute to the ongoing NPCC wellbeing support offer.”

Chief Constable Andy Marsh, College of Policing CEO, said:

“Response is at the core of policing’s crime fighting mission and we must look after the officers and staff who are responding to calls from the public and confronting criminals day and night.

“This week of action is an opportunity to celebrate response teams and highlight the wellbeing support and practical guidance the College of Policing offers.

“We have created a range of resources specifically with response officers in mind so those in policing’s most demanding roles get the learning and leadership they deserve.”