Police in England and Wales to get new strict emergency response time limits

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 3 min read 100% complete by Rajeev Syal Home affairs editorJanuary 25, 2026 at 11:30 PM

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Police forces in England and Wales will face new mandatory response time limits for emergency calls under a Home Office plan to be announced Monday. Officers will be expected to arrive within 15 minutes in urban areas and 20 minutes in rural areas when responding to serious crimes involving danger to life, violence, injury, property damage, or crimes in progress. The Home Office states this is the biggest overhaul in two centuries and aims to improve accountability, as current response time data collection varies and non-compliance has no consequences. Forces with slow response times will receive guidance from faster forces. While Neighbourhood Watch welcomed the standards, police and crime commissioners warned that many forces may struggle to meet the targets without additional investment in staff and technology. The Home Secretary also plans to reduce administrative burdens on officers and increase visible community policing.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Kent 50% Avon and Somerset 50% Neighbourhood Watch 60% John Hayward-Cripps 60% Matthew Scott 60% Clare Moody 60% Wales 80% England 80% Shabana Mahmood ×290% Home Office ×490%

Keywords

emergency response time 100% police response 90% crime scenes 70% police forces 70% neighbourhood policing 60% home office 60% police patrols 50% crime 50% response targets 40%