Recommendation MAI-151: App for commander contact details
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The Home Office, the College of Policing, the Fire Service College and the National Ambulance Resilience Unit should consider together whether an app giving ready access to the contact details for all on-duty and on-call commanders is feasible and, if so, likely to be of benefit in the response to a Major Incident.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry recommended evaluating the feasibility of an app providing commander contact details. In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that additional resource had been secured to map technologies used by services and build a network to share best practice (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). It added in February 2026 that market exploration and national framework options were being considered to scope available technology, noting that this work remained ongoing (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). Previously, the UK Government 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, 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)
Additional resource has been secured to progress this work strand enabling the completion of a mapping process to understand what technologies are being used by services and to build a service network to help share best practice. Market exploration and national framework options are currently being considered, to scope what technology is available that could not only fulfil the aspirations set out in this recommendation, but also other key elements relating to improving multi-agency communications and operational police functions. At the time of writing this work is still ongoing.
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
Additional resource has been secured to progress this work strand enabling the completion of a mapping process to understand what technologies are being used by services and to build a service network to help share best practice. Market exploration and national framework options are currently being considered, to scope what technology is available that could not only fulfil the aspirations set out in this recommendation, but also other key elements relating to improving multi-agency communications and operational police functions. At the time of writing this work is still ongoing.
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