Recommendation MAI-96: Force Duty Officer not to handle media enquiries
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The College of Policing should issue guidance to all police services to ensure the following, in the event of a Major Incident: a. The Force Duty Officer is not expected to deal with media enquiries. b. The important task of ensuring that the media is kept informed is done in a way that does not interfere with the work of the police control room.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended that guidance ensure Force Duty Officers do not handle media enquiries. In a progress update published by the Cabinet Office in February 2026, the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) reported that guidance had been issued to forces in spring 2023 (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The update noted that feedback helped the College of Policing finalise a Force Incident Manager (FIM) training curriculum for delivery from spring 2025, with both work strands closed under NPCC governance in May 2024 (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). However, neither the training details nor the guidance mentioned media enquiries or police control room interference (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026).
Sources
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 completed (27 February 2026)
NPCC Update: Force Incident Manager (FIM) Accredited Training - The FIM curriculum has been finalised along with accreditation processes and supporting guidance. A training team is being created, as delivery of the course will be centrally managed by the College. This training is set to go live in Spring 2025 for all new FIMs and to include existing FIMs where appropriate. This work strand has been closed via NPCC Governance May 2024. NPCC Update: Guidance to Forces - Guidance was issued to forces in spring 2023. Collated feedback from this process was sent into the College to support the development of the Force Incident Manager Accredited Training. This work strand has been closed via NPCC Governance May 2024.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
NPCC Update: Force Incident Manager (FIM) Accredited Training - The FIM curriculum has been finalised along with accreditation processes and supporting guidance. A training team is being created, as delivery of the course will be centrally managed by the College. This training is set to go live in Spring 2025 for all new FIMs and to include existing FIMs where appropriate. This work strand has been closed via NPCC Governance May 2024. NPCC Update: Guidance to Forces - Guidance was issued to forces in spring 2023. Collated feedback from this process was sent into the College to support the development of the Force Incident Manager Accredited Training. This work strand has been closed via NPCC Governance May 2024.
From: Manchester Arena Inquiry Recommendations Dashboard, original version (data file)
Published evidence
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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