Response Policing Week - Message from ACC Eamonn Bridger

Hello – my name is Eamonn Bridger and I am the Assistant Chief Constable for Suffolk police and the lead for local policing across the county.

National Response Policing week (24 - 30 June) provides me with an opportunity to highlight the fantastic work that our frontline response officers do across the county 24 hours a day and 365 days of the year.

Our Response Investigation Teams, provide the initial response to all emergency incidents and the follow up investigation to crime incidents such as violence in public spaces, criminal damage, drug related offences and missing people.

When the public call us, often in one of the worst moments of their lives, they rightly expect us to arrive quickly, act professionally and protect them. This interaction often determines the confidence that people have in the police and the opinion the public hold, for years to come, about policing in Suffolk – It is therefore vital that we are effective when we respond to such emergency situations.

Six months ago we introduced a new operating model for local policing. The purpose was to strengthen community links with the public and ensure the Constabulary continues to provide the best possible policing service. This was done as a response to the rising and changing demands that are presented, and our planning included the views of the public and workforce.

We have also taken steps to ensure that the work tasked to our officers is in line with the core mission of policing and that they are more available to tackle the crime and anti social behaviour issues that most disrupt our communities.

Early feedback has clearly shown that the innovative approach has strengthened the way we engage with local communities, respond to emergencies, investigate crime and address other incidents that cause the public to make contact with us.

The model ensures that our officers are where people need them to be, when they are needed most - with community engagement at the heart of what they do.

All of that said, the model is only as good as the people that work within it and we have highly committed and professional officers responding to emergencies in your communities, often placing themselves in danger to protect those more vulnerable in the interests of public service. We will continue to focus on their development and wellbeing and I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all of our response officers for the courage and professionalism that they demonstrate in all that they do.

We will continue to assess how we deliver policing in Suffolk and ensure that we meet the requirements of the public.

We remain focussed on providing a police service that develops closer relationships with you - our communities and provides an effective service when needed.