Recommendation MAI-78: Review NWAS Tactical Advisor numbers
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
North West Ambulance Service should review the number of Tactical Advisors and National Interagency Liaison Officers it has, and whether the number of such specialists, both generally and on call, should be increased.
In brief (written by this site)
In a Cabinet Office dashboard update in February 2026, North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust recorded the recommendation as completed (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It stated that investment would increase its National Interagency Liaison Officers from 12 to 21, with 17 in post by November 2023 to expand rota and geographical coverage (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It also noted that it had removed the title of Tactical Advisor in October 2023, assigning those duties to liaison officers following executive approval and dialogue with the National Ambulance Resilience Unit (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The UK Government had previously accepted the recommendation in full in November 2025 (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 26 Sep 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says completed (27 February 2026)
Investment by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) will increase the number of National Interagency Liaison Officers from 12 to 21 (17 NILOs as at 01/11/2023). This will see an increase to the rota and geographical coverage. As from 01/10/2023 NWAS has removed the title Tactical Advisors. The NWAS NILO provides the Tactical Advisor role. This decision was taken following dialogue with the National Ambulance Resilience Unit, and received NWAS Executive approval
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Investment by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) will increase the number of National Interagency Liaison Officers from 12 to 21 (17 NILOs as at 01/11/2023). This will see an increase to the rota and geographical coverage. As from 01/10/2023 NWAS has removed the title Tactical Advisors. The NWAS NILO provides the Tactical Advisor role. This decision was taken following dialogue with the National Ambulance Resilience Unit, and received NWAS Executive approval
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement