Train BTP Inspectors as Bronze Commanders
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022 · Addressed to: British Transport Police
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says completed (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
British Transport Police should ensure that all its Inspectors are trained to undertake the Bronze Commander role in the event of a Major Incident.
Manchester Arena Inquiry, Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · 3 Nov 2022 Source PDF →
Published evidence summary
AI-generated evidence summary
The Inquiry recommended that British Transport Police train all its Inspectors as Bronze Commanders. In a February 2026 update published by the Cabinet Office, the force reported that it completed two-day Major Incident command training for all Inspectors in March 2024 (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It added that it had launched an additional Hydra course to consolidate the training, with all trained officers rostered to attend (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK Government had previously accepted the recommendation in full in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026.
About this summary
Government response
●UK Government · Accepted · 14 Nov 2025
Accepted in full
Response document: Manchester Arena Inquiry recommendations (GOV.UK page linking to the Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard)
Delivery
●Cabinet Office says completed · 27 Feb 2026
It is confirmed that in March of 2024 we completed the remainder of the Sgt and Inspector (and Chief Inspector) Major Incident Command training. That means all of our Sgts and Inspectors (Chief Inspectors) (at that point in time) have received the Major incident 2 day command training and both the below recommendations can be shown as complete for BTP. We have now moved on to an additional phase where In September we launched our Major Incident Hydra course. This is to consolidate the Major Incident Command training and will see all of those trained rostered to undertake the Hydra course as well.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
It is confirmed that in March of 2024 we completed the remainder of the Sgt and Inspector (and Chief Inspector) Major Incident Command training. That means all of our Sgts and Inspectors (Chief Inspectors) (at that point in time) have received the Major incident 2 day command training and both the below recommendations can be shown as complete for BTP. We have now moved on to an additional phase where In September we launched our Major Incident Hydra course. This is to consolidate the Major Incident Command training and will see all of those trained rostered to undertake the Hydra course as well.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
●JESIP · 1 Apr 2024
JESIP Joint Doctrine updated to v3.1 (April 2024) following inquiry findings on interoperability failures. Operation Plato reformed to cover all terrorist attack types, not just firearms. Emphasis extended beyond command-level to frontline responders.
JESIP Joint Doctrine Version 3.1, April 2024View source →
How this page is built
The recommendation and the government responses are verbatim from primary documents. Delivery statements and other bodies' findings are shown in their own words, each with its source. The summary is written by this site and labelled as such. The Index does not paraphrase sources or characterise intent; it records what has been published.