New Joint Response Unit Vehicle Hits Kent Roads After Huge Success
Kent’s pioneering Joint Response Unit (JRU) has just rolled out a third emergency vehicle to tackle incidents across east Kent. The specialist unit, which pairs a police officer with a paramedic, has been smashing call-out targets and cutting response times since its debut in 2018.
How The JRU Works Its Magic
The JRU sends out a duo—one police officer, one paramedic—who join forces on calls needing both emergency services. With their unique partnership, they often resolve situations fast, avoiding backup patrols and ambulances. The team covers north Kent areas of Medway, Swale, Dartford, Gravesham, and now east Kent.
- Staffed mainly by Special Constabulary volunteers with real-world skills—think doctors, solicitors, environmental officers.
- Officers have full police powers.
- Together, they manage everything from road crashes and assaults to sudden deaths and even sports injuries.
- The team’s presence frequently diffuses violent or alcohol-related incidents.
Record-Breaking Impact Since 2018
Since the first JRU launched in March 2018, the team has attended around 4,500 emergency calls—saving Kent Police over £112,000.
SECAmb (South East Coast Ambulance Service) reports the unit has saved over 1,000 hours on the road since April 2020—cutting the average time spent per incident by half an hour.
Remarkably, the JRU team has even delivered three babies during emergency callouts.
Expansion Wins Praise from Chiefs
The new third vehicle started patrolling on 30 October, taking on 12 calls during its first weekend. The Care Quality Commission called the JRU an “area of outstanding practice” in its 2019 SECAmb inspection, prompting other emergency forces to copy the concept.
“No two shifts are the same,” said Special Inspector Ashley Collick, Kent Police. “We can often resolve calls from start to finish or swiftly direct the right backup. The arrival of both services together can stop violence before it begins.”
“The third vehicle marks a major step forward in rolling JRUs across Kent. It shows the dedication of our teams to providing a first-rate service,” he added.
Will Bellamy, SECAmb Operating Unit Manager for Dartford and Medway, said: “I’m thrilled we’ve expanded the JRU in Kent. It strengthens our teamwork with police colleagues, speeds up responses, and frees up other vehicles to handle urgent calls.”
With the JRU growing stronger, Kent’s emergency response is quicker, smarter, and more cost-efficient than ever.
