West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Foster joined officers in Sandwell.

The crime commissioner for the West Midlands has hailed the force’s improved performance in answering emergency calls.

Simon Foster, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner, joined police officers in Sandwell on the frontline as part of National Response Week of Action (20-27 April).

But the visit coincided with information about how the responses to 999 and 101 calls have reached record breaking levels for the force.

Figures show, for 999, performance against the national 10-second calls answered service level agreement has improved, with compliance rising to 97 per cent in 2025/26.

In addition to this, the average answer time for 999 calls has reduced, decreasing to 2 seconds for the same period.

On Monday, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster called for the reinstatement of 700 officers the force has seen cut since 2010, while Hertfordshire’s PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards warned the force is facing a growing burden. | Local Library

placeholder image — On Monday, West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Simon Foster called for the reinstatement of 700 officers the force has seen cut since 2010, while Hertfordshire’s PCC Jonathan Ash-Edwards warned the force is facing a growing burden. | Local Library

During the shift, the Commissioner witnessed first hand the fast-paced nature of the role, observing officers as they navigated complex and often distressing, emergency callouts.

Mr Foster, said: “I want to thank our officers for their unwavering commitment, dedication and professionalism in what is an incredibly fast-paced and challenging role.

“Today was an opportunity for me to see our Response Teams out and about and in action in Sandwell.

“Whether that is responding to an emergency 999 call at pace or supporting a victim of crime, Response Officers work tirelessly 24/7 to protect our communities.”

The ride-along also provided a platform for officers to engage directly with the Commissioner, showcasing the essential work performed daily across the West Midlands.

Similarly, for 101 calls, considerable progress has been made in meeting the 3-minute calls answered service level agreement, with compliance rising to 95.7 per cent in 2025/26.The average answer time for 101 calls has improved too, averaging around 30 seconds in the past fiscal year.

When looking at emergency response performance, the median emergency response times have improved to around 11 minutes in 2025/26, which the police said reflects greater efficiency in deployment and response.

Additionally, compliance with the 15-minute emergency response service level agreement has improved to 70.6 per cent for the same period.

The dedicated week was aimed at recognising the commitment, dedication and professionalism of response officers who work 24/7, 365 days a year to keep the public safe.