Recommendation MAI-125: Silver Commander training for designated officers
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The Home Office and College of Policing should ensure that any police officer whose position carries with it the expectation that they will assume a Tactical/Silver Commander role in the event of a spontaneous Major Incident (e.g. Night Silver in Greater Manchester Police) has undertaken an accredited course preparing them for that role.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended accredited training for police officers expected to assume tactical commander roles. The Cabinet Office reported in February 2026 that new operational and tactical commanders training had been devised and launched to forces (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The department stated that this would be underpinned by new command and control approved professional practice (APP), due for launch in 2025, which will designate role accreditation (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Earlier, in November 2025, the UK Government recorded that the recommendation was accepted 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.
About this summary
This recommendation applies across many organisations. The record reflects central policy activity; adoption in individual organisations may vary.
Government response
Accepted in full
Delivery
Cabinet Office says in progress (27 February 2026)
New operational and tactical commanders training has been devised and launched to forces. This will be underpinned by the new command and control approved professional practice (APP) which is due for launch in 2025 which will designate the accreditation of each role.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
New operational and tactical commanders training has been devised and launched to forces. This will be underpinned by the new command and control approved professional practice (APP) which is due for launch in 2025 which will designate the accreditation of each role.
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