Monday, July 24, 2024

This week marks National Response Policing Week of Action where West Yorkshire Police, along with other forces across the country, highlight the vital work of response police officers and the key role they play in frontline policing.  

Our response officers attend a wide variety of 999 calls every day and are often the first on the scene of any emergency.  

No two calls-outs are the same for them and that’s why we are recognising their work, with special emphasis on their wellbeing and making officers aware of the resources available to them.  

Being a response officer can be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding.  

That’s why this national week of action will focus on wellbeing within the response environment.

Sessions will be held throughout the week offering support and guidance from the Force wellbeing team, the Police Federation, staff associations and the College of Policing.  

Officers will have access to webinars and training that will provide tips and techniques on building resilience, managing stress, sleeping well, and overcoming fatigue.  

Assistant Chief Constable Damien Miller said: “Across each District of West Yorkshire there is fantastic work displayed by our response officers on a daily basis. Recognition of this is very important especially given the many challenges we face as a policing family.  

“Response officers play a vital role in the success of policing, first on the scene to calls for help from members of the public, confronting offenders day and night, dealing with unpredictable, violent or traumatic incidents and at times putting the needs of our communities ahead of their own safety.”  

“This week we’ll be celebrating the hard work of colleagues who go above and beyond, and recognising their impact. It’s an opportunity to say thank you to each one of them for the sacrifices they make, their professionalism and courage. I am hugely proud of them.”  

Alison Lowe, OBE, West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, said: “In my role I’m privileged to meet many of the dedicated police officers serving on the frontline to keep our communities safe.  

“That’s why this week of action is a great opportunity to celebrate the amazing work of police response officers across West Yorkshire.  

“We should never forget that behind every uniform is a human being and I will do everything in my power to ensure they always have the support they require.”