Recommendation MAI-162: Define BTP Senior Duty Officer role in Major Incidents
From Manchester Arena Inquiry: Volume 2: Emergency Response, published 3 November 2022.
Recommendation
The role of the Senior Duty Officer in a Major Incident should be clearly defined and explained in the British Transport Police Major Incident Manual. This role should have a corresponding action card.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked British Transport Police to define its Senior Duty Officer role. In February 2026, the Cabinet Office reported that an agreed curriculum for Operational and Tactical Commander training was scheduled to launch across winter 2024, underpinned by updated approved professional practice (Cabinet Office, Feb 2026). The report does not mention the Senior Duty Officer role, the Major Incident Manual, or an action card (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 completed (27 February 2026)
New Operational and Tactical (Bronze and Silver) Commander's training - The new curriculum has been agreed and is set to be launched to forces for local delivery across Winter 2024. The course will be underpinned by the new Command and Control approved professional practice (APP) (recommendation 58) and updated Civil Contingencies APP (recommendation 72).
Earlier statement on delivery (1)
Cabinet Office (14 November 2025)
New Operational and Tactical (Bronze and Silver) Commander's training - The new curriculum has been agreed and is set to be launched to forces for local delivery across Winter 2024. The course will be underpinned by the new Command and Control approved professional practice (APP) (recommendation 58) and updated Civil Contingencies APP (recommendation 72).
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
Who has spoken
- UK Government
Response - Cabinet Office
Delivery statement