Sussex Police named UK's best force for answering 999 calls

Sussex Police has achieved a remarkable milestone, becoming the first police force in the UK to lead the national rankings for emergency call response for a full consecutive year.

A Record-Breaking Achievement

During the 12-month period from August 2025 to July 2026, Sussex Police answered more than 98 per cent of 999 calls within 10 seconds. With 289,125 calls received during this period, the force maintained an impressive average answer time of just three seconds.

Chief Constable Jo Shiner expressed her pride in the accomplishment, saying: "This is an outstanding achievement and I am so proud of all my officers and staff that have worked so hard to make this happen. Achieving the highest ranking in the country for 12 consecutive months shows the commitment of our teams to provide a fast and effective response for our communities so that when they need us the most, we are there to help them."

Behind the Success

The force credits its success to significant investment in modern technology and systems. New contact technology has improved the routing and management of both 999 and 101 calls in the control room, streamlining the process of connecting residents with the help they need.

Advanced data analytics have also played a crucial role, helping the force better understand demand patterns, staffing requirements, and available resources. This data-driven approach has enabled faster deployment of officers and staff to where they're needed most.

Dedication of the Control Room Team

Chief Superintendent Jon Robeson highlighted the vital work of the teams behind the scenes: "Behind every call is someone who needs help, and it is our job to make sure they receive that help as quickly as possible. This achievement is down to the dedication of our contact officers in Lewes, who work tirelessly around the clock, alongside the investment we have made in enhancing our technology, systems and processes."

The contact officers working in the Lewes control room are the backbone of this achievement, managing emergency calls 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that Sussex residents receive the fastest possible response when they need emergency services.

This recognition is a testament to the hard work and commitment of everyone involved in Sussex Police's emergency response operations, from the contact officers taking calls to the officers and staff deployed to help those in need.

Source: Sussex Police named UK's best force for answering 999 calls