MERSEYSIDE Police is recognising its response officers for their “bravery and perseverance” during a week of action.

Response officers are often the first voice or face the communities of Merseyside see when they are in crisis. They change and save lives 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

No two days are ever the same for a response officer, often facing unpredictable situations, which means they must always be prepared to provide a frontline response to what can be complex, confrontational and sometimes traumatic situations.

Monday, (June 24) marks the beginning of the fourth annual national response policing ‘Week of Action’, where together with other police forces across the country, Merseyside Police is celebrating the professionalism and courage of its response police officers and the vital part they play in keeping our communities safe.

Chief Superintendent Mark Wiggins, Head of Response and Resolution at Merseyside Police, said: “I am always proud to highlight the role that our response officers do and celebrate their hard work, dedication and bravery in protecting and serving our communities 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

“I know from personal experience just how demanding the job is and as society has evolved, the role has become more complex. Officers in response teams never know what situations they will be faced with when they come into work each day. They routinely deal with some of the most challenging situations in society.

“The role is fast-paced and unpredictable and response officers are often the first to arrive to a scene and provide help and reassurance to those most vulnerable in times of crisis. They play a vital part in keeping our communities safe, safeguarding victims of crime and arresting and bringing offenders to justice.

“Through this week of action, we are able to highlight to our communities the excellent work that these officers do, to give people an idea of some of the things they deal with on a daily basis.”

The response policing role can be physically, mentally, and emotionally demanding. The calls they receive can range from someone being seriously injured or a person suffering mental health crisis, to dealing with someone in distress or a report of high-risk missing person.

This week of action recognises the work of response police officers and this year, there is an increased focus on providing opportunities for learning and development, networking and career progression allowing officers to explore and build on their experience in their existing role.

Merseyside’s Police and Crime Commissioner Emily Spurrell said: “It’s vital we recognise and celebrate the bravery and hard work of our response officers through this week of action. Their determination to support our community in what can be the most difficult and challenging situations – situations which often put their own safety at risk to protect the welfare of others. 

“I know the role can be physically, mentally, and emotionally draining and that’s why the perseverance and determination of our officers shouldn’t go unnoticed – they really are at the heart of frontline policing and are absolutely vital in ensuring our communities are kept safe.

“I would like to thank all response officers for the amazing work they do day in day out. Their resilience and dedication to the job is inspiring and it’s so important that this is highlighted to give people a better understanding of what it’s like working on the frontline.”