999 Day of Recognition – 9 September 2024

We are proud to support this year’s Emergency Services ‘999’ Day; a day dedicated to showing appreciation for our 999 heroes, both past and present.

More than 2 million people work across the emergency services and NHS today. Many of these are dedicated volunteers, without whom the emergency services could not operate effectively.

There are six main branches to the emergency services including Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, NHS, Coastguard and Lifeboats and Search and Rescue. These people are doing a whole range of essential services across the United Kingdom, including answering emergency calls, practice medicine, fight fires, work behind the scenes in enabling services, police the streets and save lives at sea, on mountains, lowland and even in caves.

Chief Constable Catherine Roper says: “Emergency Services Day is an opportunity for us all to reflect on the incredible collaboration across our ‘999’ service colleagues across Swindon and Wiltshire and beyond.

"I am immensely proud and humbled to be surrounded by officers, staff and volunteers who work tirelessly to protect local communities and never hesitate to attend sometimes life-threatening emergency situations.

PCC Philip Wilkinson said: “It’s easy to take the work of our emergency services, and the sacrifices made by workers and their families, for granted.

“Most people who work on the frontline will take it in their stride and tell you it’s part of the job, which is a sentiment I broadly agree with.

“However, it’s important to use opportunities like today to consider the work they do and thank them for their role in keeping our communities safe.

“I have seen the dedication and determination of our officers to ensure Wiltshire and Swindon is a safer place to live and work, and this commitment is reflected across all of our frontline emergency services.”

To all our emergency service colleagues for all you do to keep our local communities safe, thank you.