Response police officers should know they are respected for the vital role they play, Kent Police Federation has said.

Federation Chair Neil Mennie has voiced his support for frontline colleagues as part of National Response Policing Week, which celebrates officers undertaking some of the most demanding and unpredictable work in policing.

“Response policing is at the sharp end of the service,” Neil said. 

“Officers provide 24/7 cover, often moving from one call to the next without pause, never fully knowing what they will face, as incidents can differ significantly from how they are first reported.

“It is a high-risk, high-pressure and highly demanding role, yet these officers can sometimes feel undervalued.”

Neil praised response officers as the first on the scene at a wide range of incidents, highlighting both the breadth of their responsibilities and the challenges of working alone.

“It’s a uniquely demanding role because you have to be a jack of all trades. From robbery and burglary to child exploitation and beyond, many investigations begin with that initial visit from a response officer. It can also be a lonely role, with officers frequently single-crewed.

“Personally, I would like to see more officers on the streets and greater use of double crewing.

“If you are a response officer, please know you are respected - by colleagues across the organisation, by the public you serve every day, and by all of us at the Federation.”