![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
Ahead of Response Policing Week, ACC Matt Boyle from Greater Manchester Police who is the NPCC Response Policing lead shares why the first response policing conference is taking place in the heart of Manchester.
“Response policing is probably the policing resource that you see the most each day and every day when you see the police. We are there 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Response officers are those people who, in the majority of the the time, are dealing with 999 calls and really urgent calls. Response policing is the main response function for UK policing. It doesn’t go away. It doesn’t stop.”
ACC Boyle says that nearly every police officer in UK policing today has been on a response team. He is keen to put response policing on the map and showcase it as a specialist capability in UK policing and that’s one of the reasons why he is heading up the first national response policing conference during Response Policing Week of Action.
“I think it’s a time to bring UK policing together, recognise our response officers the role that they do; look at different ways of how we can support and develop them, and how we can make the role even better.”
While response policing may be a key entry point for new police officers, the rate of attrition is high with many moving on to different specialisms as they move ahead in their careers. ACC Boyle reflects on this point. “We are the feeding ground for specialist capabilities such as detectives, firearms, dog handlers, intelligence or even transition to international roles.” Five years in role is unusual, he says but proudly reveals that one response officer has just completed 38 years in response, so not everyone moves on it seems.
“One of the key takeaways we want for this year’s conference is about how to improve the recognition and well being of the response officer.”
That takeaway comes from the five pillars for response policing – see graphic below. ACC Boyle says these pillars frame the work of the National Police Chiefs’ Council governance committee that he chairs and that the conference will be forward looking as well as taking a deep dive into data and performance. “I do want to stress one of the key goals of a response function in any police force is about getting to people really quickly but also very safely so the data is really important.”
In a single shift, a response police officer can attend back to back calls but has to treat each call equally. It may be the first time a victim has ever had contact with police and he says the officers need to respond with proper care, providing an empathetic response.
It’s a heavy toll on them and he says it’s important for those officers to refresh themselves in between incidents
“Response officers are going from incident to incident, and have to refresh themselves to give the very best victim care. They’ve got to be evidence focused and also suspect focused as well, because the sooner we can apprehend the suspect, the more chance that we’ve got of obtaining justice for the victim as well.”
He does though recognise the reality of the job and adds: “let’s be really candid here, sometimes they don’t get that break in between jobs, so we have to build up their personal resilience.” Supervision and peer support help as well as the briefing held at the start of every shift and the check in at the end before they leave to return home. These are topics that will be discussed at the conference.
Equipment, technology, uniform and AI will also be on the agenda for the conference. Reflecting on the uniform worn by response officers, ACC Boyle says: “A response officer can be in their uniform for up to 16 hours, so it’s got to be comfortable. The last thing they need is their clothing annoying them.” Met Commander Dan Ivey will talk to delegates about the national uniform survey and pick up on cultural aspects – the launch of the Blue Light Hijab for example shows how innovation comes from those directly on the frontline.
“I just want a response officer that’s going to work at the start of their shift with really good uniform, well-fitted and appropriate; where they are really well trained, briefed, supported and led so that they can do a great job for the public.”
Response policing week of action runs from 20 April with a range of activities supported by the College of Policing. The invite-only conference in Manchester will see response police officers drawn from almost every police force in the UK.
To read similar articles, check out our People and skills channel.
