Kent Police Shines Spotlight on Unsung Heroes During Response Policing Week
Response Officers: The Force’s Frontline Warriors
Response Policing Week is here, giving a much-needed shoutout to the officers and staff who race to emergency calls. These are the men and women who face everything from murders to burglaries head-on.
Neil, a former response supervisor at Kent Police, said, “There are a lot of fantastic departments within Kent Police, but Response is sometimes a little bit under-recognised.” He added, “No matter the job — murder, robbery, burglary — most cases kick off with a response officer who has to be a jack of all trades and a master of them all.”
Life on the Streets: Unpredictable and Perilous
Neil is pumped to hit the streets again this week to get a real feel for the chaos and challenge of day-to-day response duties. “It’s a really important and multi-faceted role,” he said. “Unlike most parts of policing, response officers never know what’s around the corner. One minute they’re heading to a routine call, the next it’s something completely different — and it moves fast.”
“It can be perilous at times, and I believe they’re often undersold, despite being vital to how the police operate locally and nationally.”
Backing the Brave: Wellbeing and Support
Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, stressed the importance of looking after these frontline staff. “Response is at the heart of policing’s crime-fighting mission. We must support the officers and staff who respond to public calls and face criminals day and night.”
This week also highlights the College’s new wellbeing resources and practical guidance specifically created for response officers. “We’ve developed tailored resources to ensure those in the toughest roles get the learning and leadership they deserve,” Marsh added.
