Response Policing Week: Fed member praises officers’ commitment

28 June 2024

A West Mercia Police Federation member has paid tribute to efforts behind Response Policing Week in celebrating the work of response officers across the country.

The national ‘week of action’, coordinated by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), the College of Policing, and Oscar Kilo, is currently in its fourth year and runs from 24 June to 30 June.

The initiative engages with response cops by recognising their dedication and offering them opportunities for learning and development, networking, and wellbeing.

Constable Dave Hussey believes such officers deserve acknowledgement for their impact within the Police Force.

“I think response officers are underappreciated for the amount of skill required in their role – if you didn’t have response, there would be no police. So, it’s good that there is this time for us to be recognised, because I think we need it,” he said.

Challenges

Dave, whose police service will reach 22 years in October, highlighted the importance of appreciation in light of the challenges faced by members of response teams in modern society.

He added: “The introduction of social media means there are some offences we have to deal with on the streets and now also in people’s homes as well. Things like harassment become more of an unknown entity because someone can simply do it by sitting on their phone.

“The fact that ambulance services are continuously being stretched has also required us to respond to more mental health calls than before. On top of the incidents themselves, the increased admin work afterwards means response officers have a lot on their plate. It can be really tough.”

Constable Dave Hussey (middle) and two of his response team.

The 42-year-old boasts a long history of experience within response units, having worked in London and Worcester before moving to a placement in Leominster in 2013. Reserving praise for his current team, PC Hussey explained that while obstacles may exist, they do not stop him from enjoying the job he has held for over two decades.

“The officers I operate alongside are very driven and committed to response policing, and what I like about them is they approach any incident with a positive mindset. That sort of thing rubs off on you.

“I’ve always loved being out and about in my work and North Herefordshire is a beautiful place to do that in.”

Energised

While wanting to avoid the cliché of ‘no two days are the same’, Dave admitted he is energised by the variation within the role.

“It’s so unpredictable and you simply don’t know what’s coming next. In the morning, you could be dealing with something very heavy, like a death or domestic abuse, and then in the afternoon, you could be rolling around with a shoplifter,” he said.

Oscar Kilo, the National Police Wellbeing Service, is hosting online wellbeing sessions organised by the College of Policing and have deployed their wellbeing vans and dogs across the UK over Response Policing Week. The Service say this is to remind response officers that they are here to support them and their forces not just in this week, but all year round.

Dave also had a message for both serving and prospective response officers: “We all know we represent the Police in a climate where public perception is not always as it should be, and appreciation can be hard to come by. So, I think it’s important to take pleasure in the small things that allow us to remember the brilliant work we do – even an email from a colleague, for example.

“I would say to anyone considering joining a police response team that it is not always easy, but there are always more good days than bad days. No matter the difficulties we are faced with, this is still a very good job.”

All online sessions hosted by the College of Policing during Response Policing Week will be recorded and accessible on the Knowledge Hub at any time.

Wellbeing sessions hosted by Oscar Kilo are available to watch at any time on their website, where Federation members can also find further resources on Response Policing Week.