For Every Response

In our second episode with the British Safety Industry Federation, the panel looks at tender specifications. They argue that they are critical to securing the right products that deliver the quality and performance that teams need. Listen on to get insights into how robust tendering ensures end users get what they truly need. Speakers: Natalie Wilson, host Amy Beams, Women in the Fire Service Chri...

Professor Richard Aldrich joins The Emergency Tech Show to give an invigorating keynote speech on AI technologies, drawing on his extensive work from the world of security and spies. He explains that with a tsunami of data sweeping towards us we must engage with new technologies but shows that the smart choices are about resilience rather than radical transformation. Listen on to find out more. Sp...

Dr Camilla De Camargo and Dr Stephanie Wallace from Lancaster University reveal the findings of the first national survey on police uniforms commissioned by the Police Federation of England and Wales. In this lively episode, they explore how ill-fitting uniforms affect officers’ health, safety, and operational effectiveness, and discuss the urgent need for inclusive, functional uniform reform. Spe...

In this episode, the first of three hosted by the British Safety Industry Federation, Natalie Wilson chairs a panel focused on inclusive PPE. With a starting point of the publication of a new standard, the panel explores the importance of ‘Fit for Form.’ They highlight why correctly fitting PPE matters and share practical steps for both manufacturers and end users. Speakers: Natalie Wilson, host A...

In a first for The Emergency Tech Show, host Rich Preston is joined on stage by Joy Allen, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Durham. Along with Durham Constabulary DI Andy Phillips, they discuss how this force is using innovative and creative technology solutions to reduce violence against women and girls. Speakers: Rich Preston, host Joy Allen, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner Andy Philli...

With a new book focused on burnout and using case studies from the emergency services, Dr Richard Duggins is the perfect person to share his tips with the show this year. In this episode hear the discussion with Nick Smart, the President of the Police Superintendents' Association, and Esther Ingham from Merseyside Police as they discuss tactics for how to thrive in a stressful workplace. Speakers:...

Rounding off the three episodes from The Emergency Planning Society, the panel explores how the UK can strengthen resilience in the face of complex and evolving threats. They draw on real-world experience, emerging best practices, and recent government strategies to to see how to enhance national capacity and capability. Speakers: Amanda Coleman, host Beverley Griffiths, Buckinghamshire New Univer...

This is a packed episode with the Civil Aviation Authority providing an update on the latest position about using drones beyond visual line of sight. They are joined by leading academics who are looking at using swarms of drones to detect wildfires providing a level of situational awareness never seen before. Speakers: Rich Preston, host Sophie O'Sullivan, Civil Aviation Authority Keith Bennett, C...

Across major incidents from Grenfell to the Manchester Arena bombing, public inquiries have exposed a consistent thread: well-intentioned leaders placed in critical positions without the tools, training, or reflective habits to succeed. In this episode hear from our experts who draw on high-profile cases and frontline experience and introduce CPDresilience as a digital enabler of this change. Spea...

In this second episode led by The Emergency Planning Society the team look at the UK’s national resilience capability and the growing need for skilled emergency planners. They talk about how to find practical solutions for improving interoperability across agencies and communities. Speakers: Beverley Griffiths, Buckinghamshire New University, host Stephen Arundell, Emergency Planning Society David...

As more police forces start to use live facial recognition technology, we hear from two forces who are early in their plans for implementation. Andrew Hendry from Police Scotland and Leanne Moorehouse from Devon and Cornwall Police join Rich Preston in this episode to talk about the considerations, practicalities and ethics behind future deployment. Speakers: Rich Preston, host Andrew Hendry, Poli...

This time, we bring you a shorter episode from the show, featuring Lucy Macleod, a borough commander for the London Fire Brigade. Lucy shares the findings from her recent postgraduate research into bariatric evacuation and rescue during high impact events in London. With specialist procedures and techniques required, Lucy looks at the capacity in place to ensure rescues are carried out with dignit...

Catherine Levin talks to Professor Shane Ewen about his involvement in a new play called Trailblazing - women have always been firefighters. It's a conversation about cultural change and uses stories to show the evolution of women working in the fire and rescue service.  It is an impressive collaboration with arts organisations in West Yorkshire to create a play, drawing on research and oral histo...

This is the first of three episodes led by the Emergency Planning Society. In this one we hear from a panel of experts who explore the critical role of communication in fostering trust, collaboration, and empowerment. They highlight the shift from fear-based messaging to transparent, preparedness-focused communication. Speakers: Jeannie Barr, Emergency Planning Society  Amanda Coleman, Amanda Cole...

The complexity of working with fingerprint lifts at crime scenes is challenging but a vital part of investigations. This is why the Digital Fingerprint Capability is a revolution for forensics and in this episode experts share how this has developed and how it integrates with key policing technology and infrastructure. Speakers: Rich Preston, host James Earnshaw. Police Digital Service Stephen Gai...

West Midlands Police is giving its new recruits virtual reality headsets to experience incidents from the victim’s point of view. In this episode hear about the force’s work with community interest company Calico and how they have been working with recent recruits to help them as they start their career in policing. Speakers: Joy Flanagan, host Laura Burke, West Midlands Police Daz Scott, Calico  ...

In a first for the pod, we have gone stateside. Listen as Catherine Levin catches up with the chief of the Detroit Fire Department who she met more than a decade ago. They chat with Cory Hohs, the CEO of safety firm, Haas Alert about the modernisation of the fire department in motor city, how safety alerting forms part of keeping frontline responders safe and why data is key to improving outcomes....

In this episode the panel led by the National Fire Chiefs Council looks at the risk from contaminants in all aspects of firefighter activity. Chaired by ACFO Luke Gazzard, the panel discusses how to minimise risk, whether that’s on the fireground or back at the fire station, as all services grapple with the problem of lowering the risk of exposure.   Speakers: Luke Gazzard, Avon Fire and Rescue Se...

Effective multi-agency collaboration is paramount during major incidents, yet capturing lessons from complex events poses significant challenges. This episode sees Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service outline its strategic implementation of ISARR, a dedicated organisational learning and lessons management platform. Speakers: Rich Preston, host Neil Sadler, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Serv...

Get a frontline insight into the control room with findings from a staff centred project to identify, assess, better understand and effectively manage the root causes of work-related stress. Join Humberside Police and Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue Service in this episode to learn about their work with psychologists from the University of Hull.   Speakers: Léa Fréour, University of Hull, host Fiona...

In this short bonus episode we learn all about the Gratitude Games which is a new event for the emergency services taking place in Manchester in June 2026.  Catherine Levin went to the launch early in November to talk to the founders and the emergency services who are supporting it. She finds great enthusiasm for using sport to bring people together, to have conversations about the mental health o...

The clean cab concept is well known to fire and rescue services. In this episode the panel expands the approach to embrace all vehicles used by firefighters when thinking about reducing exposure to contaminants from the fire ground. Find out about the practicalities of keeping vehicles as clean as possible and what techniques services can adopt to keep firefighters safe. Speakers: Luke Gazzard, Av...

Following on from last year’s conversation with Simon Parr who heads up the Emergency Services Network programme, we learn in this episode about the technology and the partnership with suppliers. The panel led by programme operations director, Niall Stokoe, talks about the progress of the technical delivery of ESN which will enable the national deployment of 4G based critical communications servic...

The Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service joined Dr Claire Park for a fireside chat with Catherine Levin in what turned out to be the most popular session at The Emergency Services Show 2025. They had a wide ranging discussion about leadership, culture, training and how what Fin and Claire learned from their extensive careers in the military shapes what they do in their current...

Chief Fire Officer Peter Arnevall travelled to the show from Sweden where he heads up the Stockholm Fire Brigade. He and NFCC contaminants lead, Luke Gazzard, lead a fascinating comparative discussion about firefighters and contaminants. The panel looks at practical solutions and considers why culture should be at the heart of this important topic. Speakers: Luke Gazzard, Avon Fire and Rescue Serv...