24-hour qualified command structure rostering
Manchester Arena Inquiry · Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response · Issued 3 November 2022 · Addressed to: College of Policing, HM Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, Fire and Rescue Services
Government responseUK Government: Accepted (Nov 2025)
DeliveryCabinet Office says in progress (Feb 2026)
Recommendation, verbatim from the inquiry
●Inquiry recommendation
The College of Policing and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services should ensure that each police service has in place a system that means appropriately qualified and experienced personnel are rostered 24 hours each day so that, in the event of a terrorist attack or any Major Incident, a prepared and effective command structure can be geared up swiftly.
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 ensuring continuous qualified command rostering across all police services. In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) initial response contingency planning guidance was in place, covering command resilience for firearms, tactical, and strategic command functions (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It noted that this guidance would undergo annual assurance processes, with a new Command and Control Authorised Professional Practice (APP) still under development, though 24-hour rostering across police services was not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, in November 2025, the UK Government accepted the recommendation in full (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.
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 in progress · 27 Feb 2026
Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) initial response contingency planning guidance is in place, includes a review of command resilience for both firearms command and broader tactical and strategic command functions, in line with the response to a major incident. This will be subject of annual assurance processes. This recommendation is also being addressed through the new Command and Control APP , which is under development.
Earlier statements on delivery (0)
●Cabinet Office · 14 Nov 2025
Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) initial response contingency planning guidance is in place, includes a review of command resilience for both firearms command and broader tactical and strategic command functions, in line with the response to a major incident. This will be subject of annual assurance processes. This recommendation is also being addressed through the new Command and Control APP , which is under development.
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.