Recommendation MAI-93: 24-hour qualified command structure rostering
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The College of Policing and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services should ensure that each police service has in place a system that means appropriately qualified and experienced personnel are rostered 24 hours each day so that, in the event of a terrorist attack or any Major Incident, a prepared and effective command structure can be geared up swiftly.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended ensuring continuous qualified command rostering across all police services. In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) initial response contingency planning guidance was in place, covering command resilience for firearms, tactical, and strategic command functions (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It noted that this guidance would undergo annual assurance processes, with a new Command and Control Authorised Professional Practice (APP) still under development, though 24-hour rostering across police services was not mentioned (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, in November 2025, the UK Government accepted the recommendation in full (Cabinet Office response, Nov 2025).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 5 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (27 February 2026)
Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) initial response contingency planning guidance is in place, includes a review of command resilience for both firearms command and broader tactical and strategic command functions, in line with the response to a major incident. This will be subject of annual assurance processes. This recommendation is also being addressed through the new Command and Control APP , which is under development.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Marauding Terrorist Attack (MTA) initial response contingency planning guidance is in place, includes a review of command resilience for both firearms command and broader tactical and strategic command functions, in line with the response to a major incident. This will be subject of annual assurance processes. This recommendation is also being addressed through the new Command and Control APP , which is under development.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
Published findings referenced by inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether the finding is independent or government self-reported. Each finding is this site's summary of what the source found, with a link to the source; this site does not add its own progress rating.
Summary by this site of the published finding
JESIP Joint Doctrine updated to v3.1 (April 2024) following inquiry findings on interoperability failures. Operation Plato reformed to cover all terrorist attack types, not just firearms. Emphasis extended beyond command-level to frontline responders.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement