Heroes in headsets: Force recognises those working around the clock to answer calls for service
Dorset Police is celebrating International Control Room Week by recognising the officers and staff who form the backbone of its Contact Management command.
International Control Room Week runs from Monday 26 October to Sunday 1 November and provides us with an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the outstanding work of our Contact Management officers and staff, who play a vital role in keeping our communities safe every day.
Based across contact centres in Winfrith and Bournemouth, Contact Management teams are a crucial link between the public and the police, answering emergency and non-emergency calls, supporting victims of crime, and ensuring incidents are assessed and responded to appropriately.
Contact Management is also home to our dedicated teams within the Investigation and Intelligence Assessment Centre (IIAC), the Enhanced Video Response Team (EVR) and Incident Resolution Centre (IRC). Together, they help ensure the Force responds to public demand effectively, efficiently and giving the best possible service.
In 2025, Contact Management teams received more than 137,000 emergency 999 calls, 144,000 non-emergency 101 calls and a further 59,000 reports submitted online – with demand increasing already in 2026.
Behind every call and online report is someone seeking help, advice or reassurance, and our Contact Management colleagues work around the clock to ensure members of the public receive the support they need.
Assistant Chief Constable Lindsay Dudfield, of Dorset Police, said: "International Control Room Week provides a fantastic opportunity to recognise the outstanding contribution our Contact Management teams make every day. They are often the first point of contact for people experiencing some of the most challenging and distressing moments of their lives.
"Whether answering emergency calls, assessing incidents, supporting investigations or helping deploy resources, these teams demonstrate professionalism, resilience and compassion every day. Their work is critical to keeping Dorset safe, and we are incredibly grateful for everything they do."
To celebrate International Control Room Week, we will be sharing a series of posts across our social media channels, highlighting the variety of roles within Contact Management and offering an insight into the people behind the service.
We are recruiting for contact officers and contact and dispatch officers now. Anyone interested in a rewarding career helping the public can find out more at: https://www.dorset.police.uk/police-forces/dorset-police/areas/careers/careers/police-staff-roles/dorset-police-contact-officers/
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