More than nine in ten response officers say they are operating in teams they believe are both understaffed and unsafe, according to new research by the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW).
The findings have been drawn from a comprehensive survey and published during Response Policing Week (20–26 April), with Cambridgeshire Police Federation secretary Kevin Misik arguing that they reflect the experiences of frontline officers nationwide and are echoed at the local level.
The survey gathered responses from almost 2,000 officers across all 43 forces in England and Wales, with just six per cent indicating that response policing is currently functioning ‘very well’.
Kevin said: “These results highlight a growing crisis within response policing and will resonate strongly with our members locally. Officers are facing increasing demands with fewer resources, and the strain this places on both their safety and effectiveness cannot be ignored.
“It is deeply concerning that so many officers feel unable to carry out their duties in a safe and supported environment. This not only impacts their wellbeing but also has clear implications for the level of service the public receives.”
Respondents to the survey described being routinely ‘pushed onto the next incident’ at a constant rate, often working single-crewed and seeing entire shifts dominated by a single job.
Concerns were also raised around the size of the areas officers are required to cover, with significant travel distances affecting response times, while others pointed to issues with equipment and resourcing.
Kevin added: “Response officers are the backbone of policing, acting as first on the scene in urgent and often high-risk situations. The expectation on them to continually meet rising demand without the necessary support is unsustainable.
“When resources are stretched this thin, officers are left trying to bridge the gap through sheer dedication and goodwill, which is neither fair nor viable in the long term.”
Despite these challenges, Kevin maintained that Response Policing Week provides an opportunity to recognise the commitment and resilience shown by officers on the frontline.
“Our response officers demonstrate extraordinary professionalism and courage every day, often in the most difficult of circumstances. Their dedication to protecting the public should never be taken for granted.
“This week is a chance to acknowledge their efforts, but also to reinforce the urgent need for meaningful improvements. We will continue to advocate for the changes required to ensure officers are properly supported and able to carry out their vital role safely and effectively.”
Alongside the survey, the PFEW has launched a new film, My Last Set, as part of its wider ‘Copped Enough’ campaign. It uses actors to deliver real testimony from officers describing their most recent weeks on shift, highlighting consistent themes of long hours, high trauma exposure, and insufficient rest.
Together, the survey and film demonstrate:
- Teams operating below safe staffing levels
- Officers regularly work in excess of 60 hours per week
- Frequent exposure to serious incidents, including suicides, stabbings and mental health crises
- Officers are missing rest days and beginning shifts already fatigued
PFEW deputy national chair Brian Booth said the findings show officers are ‘immersed in the blood, sweat and tears of emergency incidents every day’, adding that they are working in what he described as a broken system being held together only by the commitment and resilience of frontline staff.