Cumbria Police is marking International Control Room Week 2026 (26 October to 1 November) by celebrating the vital role played by the multi-skilled police officers and staff who work within one of the most technologically advanced Command and Control Rooms in the UK.
International Control Room Week is dedicated to recognising the unsung heroes of the control room, celebrating the individuals, teams, achievements and professionalism that help keep communities safe every day.
Within Cumbria Constabulary, the Control Room comprises the following roles, reporting to a Chief Inspector and Superintendent:
- Eight Inspectors (Force Incident Managers)
- 10 Call Handling Sergeants
- Eight Civilian Dispatch Supervisors
- 22 Police Staff Call Handlers
- 46 Police Officer Call Handlers
- 53 Police Staff Dispatchers
- One Civilian CCTV Supervisor
- Two Civilian CCTV Operators
The teams also include 22 new Police Staff Call Handlers.
Cumbria Police Deputy Chief Constable, Jonny Blackwell, said: "We're very fortunate to have such talented and highly skilled teams and individuals working in one of the most challenging areas of policing.
"They are our frontline. When they answer a 999 call, they have no idea what to expect and may be speaking to someone in crisis or experiencing the worst day of their life.
"It takes special people to remain calm, gather critical information and direct the appropriate resources to the scene to ensure an effective response."
In addition to those answering calls from the public, there are the Force Incident Managers (FIMs) who oversee the 24/7 Command and Control Room operation, supported by supervisors and the CCTV team.
The Command and Control Room is also home to cutting-edge technology which assists officers daily in safeguarding vulnerable people, locating missing people and bringing offenders to justice.
These advancements include:
GoodSAM
Cumbria Police empowers the public to assist officers in emergency situations through tools such as live video streaming and location tracking.
When someone contacts the police in an emergency, they may be sent a link via text message which allows them to share their precise geo-located position. This can be particularly useful when a person is lost, such as on a fell.
Officers can also send a link requesting permission to access the caller's mobile phone camera at the scene of an incident, such as a serious road traffic collision or fire.
The system can be accessed within moments, without the need to download an app or install any additional software.
101 AI
An AI-driven service has been implemented nationally, including by Cumbria Police, to help direct members of the public to the most appropriate organisation quickly and efficiently.
The system aims to filter calls made to the police which would be better handled by other agencies. Examples include enquiries relating to school closures, rail services and non-emergency power cuts.
As a result, callers receive a more appropriate service while those requiring police assistance are connected more quickly.
CCTV
These developments build on Cumbria Police's adoption of other technological tools in recent years that have significantly enhanced the Constabulary's ability to investigate crime, locate missing people and safeguard vulnerable individuals.
This includes the rollout of HD CCTV cameras across the county and the introduction of object-focused analytical capabilities, allowing officers to search hundreds of hours of CCTV footage in a fraction of the time previously required.
The technology has drastically reduced the need for officers to manually review footage while significantly accelerating the identification of key evidence in investigations, including missing person enquiries, rape investigations and serious assaults.
Chief Superintendent Matt Kennerley said:"The Command and Control Room is truly at the cutting edge of technological advancement in policing.
"Within the CCR, we can instantly access live body-worn video feeds from officers, view in-car camera footage and search dozens of CCTV cameras for vehicles and other objects, all with the aim of safeguarding vulnerable people, locating missing persons and gathering evidence of criminality.
"However, these tools are only as effective as the people who use them, which is why Cumbria is so fortunate to have such a highly skilled and dedicated team working across the Command and Control Room."