His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has announced that our 101 and 999 calls response time is no longer a cause for concern.

It comes after measures which were put in place led to an improvement in how promptly we answered 999 calls and an improved 101 abandonment rate.

This was achieved by improvements in recruitment efforts, providing mentoring and training for officers and staff, making improvements to IT systems and the introduction of robust and proactive leadership within our Force Control Room.

In the year ending 30 June 2023, we answered 59.2 percent of 999 calls within 10 seconds. This was lower than the standard expected of forces in England and Wales of answering 90 percent of 999 calls within 10 seconds.

Several recommendations were made and when we were revisited in May this year, the HMICFRS deemed that there had been an improvement in the time taken to answer 999 calls.

Our Force Control Room had answered over 80 percent of 999 calls within 10 seconds over the previous nine months and this completed the recommendation on answering a greater proportion of emergency calls more quickly.

The improvements to our service have also continued throughout the summer, with the average time taken to answer a 999 call in September just 4.5 seconds and the average time to answer 101 calls 83.4 seconds. The 101 call abandonment rate for the year to date has now also fallen to 12.4 percent.

Assistant Chief Constable Rich Ocone said: "I would like to thank everyone who played a part, no matter how big or small, in helping to improve our 101 and 999 call performance time.

"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."

Police and Crime Commissioner Chris Nelson added: “We have seen a real improvement in both the 999 and 101 call service to the public and I am pleased to see that His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has recognised this.

“We knew from HMICFRS inspections that the control room and call wait times were where we needed to focus our efforts to improve our service to the public.

“These inspections are vital and help me hold the Chief Constable to account and ensure every effort is made to improve those areas of the police force that need it.

“This tangible, sustained improvement in wait times is a testament to the hard work, dedication and positive changes seen in the control room.

“I am pleased the public are receiving a much better service – and when you call the police they are there for you when you need them.”