General · 26 January 2026
UK Police to Target 15-Minute Response Times for Emergencies
The Home Office is implementing new targets for police response times in England and Wales. Emergency responses should occur within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood aims to reduce “red tape” and administrative tasks to allow officers more time on the streets, addressing concerns about rising everyday crime. The number of full-time police officers fell by 1,303 in the year to March 2025.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs