Police 999 response no longer 'cause for concern'

In the year ending June 2023, the force had answered only 59.2% of 999 calls within 10 seconds, far lower than the 90% target

Gloucestershire Police's response time to 999 and 101 calls is no longer a "cause for concern", inspectors have ruled.

Measures had previously been put in place after it was found that in the year ending June 2023, the force had answered only 59.2% of 999 calls within 10 seconds, far lower than the 90% target.

Having increased this figure to 80% in the past nine months, His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has now confirmed the concerns have been adequately addressed.

Gloucestershire's Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson said the improvement was "a testament to the hard work, dedication and positive changes seen in the control room".

In a letter published by HMICFRS, the inspectorate said the force had also made progress in reducing the number of callers to the 101 non-emergency line who had abandoned calls before they were answered.

Gloucestershire Police said the improvements made to its response had been achieved by increased recruitment efforts, mentoring and training for officers and staff, enhancing IT systems and introducing "robust and proactive leadership" in the control room.

It added that improvements - first observed in May 2024 - had been sustained throughout the summer, with the average time taken to answer a 999 call in September being just over four seconds, and around 83 seconds for 101 calls.

'Decisive changes'

Assistant Ch Con Rich Ocone thanked "everyone who played a part" in improving performance, adding: "These combined efforts showed a determination to grip the issues, make decisive changes and to be unrelenting in our work to provide a better service to the people of Gloucestershire – not least to be there for them when they need us most."