Mobilisation

Summary

Mobilisation is a key component of the police service’s response to the Strategic Policing Requirement (SPR), addressing threats such as public disorder, terrorism, and others requiring national policing responses. The National Policing Requirement (NPR) ensures police and crime commissioners and chief constables plan adequately while considering capacity, capability, consistency, and connectivity in their responses. The APP provides crucial principles and frameworks that help police services mobilise effectively when faced with civil emergencies or significant policing challenges. This includes a tiered response system (national, regional, local) to ensure coordinated action across forces and effective use of resources through mechanisms like the Mercury IT system, which aids in managing mutual aid requests and logistics efficiently.

Key principles

• 1Mobilisation is structured around a tiered response: tier 3 (national), tier 2 (regional), and tier 1 (local).
• 2The Police Act 1996 provides legal authority for mutual aid. Sections 24, 26, and 98 outline inter-force and international cooperation.
• 3Mobilisation can occur in response to spontaneous or pre-planned events and is activated by any tier's requirement.
• 4The National Mobilisation Coordinator (NMC) oversees police mutual aid and national operational needs during large-scale mobilisations.
• 5Each force must develop a mobilisation plan tailored to their capacity and coordinated with RICCs and NPoCC.