A week celebrating response policing, with opportunities to get involved
Response policing week of action 2026
Published on
News
5 mins read
We are joining police forces across England and Wales to mark response policing week, taking place from 20 to 26 April 2026.
The week is a chance to recognise and celebrate the people who answer the call every day to protect the public and keep people safe. We're proud to be marking it alongside the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service.
Supporting the people behind the role
Every day, response officers and staff carry out some of the most demanding and unpredictable work in policing. Contact handlers answer non-emergency and 999 calls, while response officers are often first on the scene managing crises, de-escalating danger and making split-second decisions that matter.
The demands placed on response officers are significant. It takes expertise, resilience and professionalism to do this job well. During the week, we want to create space to talk about what it means – and to make sure officers and staff have access to the support and resources they need.
Oscar Kilo will have wellbeing vans and OK-9 wellbeing dogs out and about visiting forces throughout the week.
Events to take part in
We're hosting five free online continuing professional development (CPD) sessions, open to everyone who works in or has an interest in response policing:
The future for response policing
Monday 20 April, 2pm to 2:45pm
First on the scene: crisis intervention
Tuesday 21 April, 2pm to 2:45pm
Using data to power trusted and effective response policing
Wednesday 22 April, 11am to 11:45am
First on the scene: spontaneous protests and auditors
Thursday 23 April, 2pm to 2:45pm
First on the scene: dangerous dogs
Friday 24 April, 2pm to 2:45pm
On Thursday 23 April, the NPCC and the Police Federation for England and Wales will also host the first response policing conference.
All sessions will be recorded and added to the response policing group on Knowledge Hub, a platform for UK policing to share information, discuss ideas and collaborate. You will need to register with your police.uk email address.
Share your story
We're inviting forces across England and Wales to share their experiences during the week using #ResponsePolicing. The stories, insights and pride of response officers help show the value of this work to the whole service, and to the public.
Related resources
- Signup to access Oscar Kilo’s wellbeing resources including better sleep, nutrition, and MindFit cop, an eight-week mindfulness course
- Mental Health Crisis Line: The 24/7 Mental Health Crisis Line is an independent and confidential service for anyone working in policing experiencing a mental health crisis or suicidal thoughts. If you’re in crisis, and need help now, call 0300 131 2789
- Get the latest from your College direct to your inbox: sign up our monthly newsletter
