Response Policing Week Spotlight: Nearly Two Decades on the Frontline

As they mark National Response Policing Week, they’re shining a light on one of their longest‑serving response officers who has dedicated 19 years to frontline policing across Amesbury, Devizes, Trowbridge, Chippenham and Warminster.

PC Andy List’s journey into policing began in May 2007, and his career is a testament to service, resilience and commitment to the public.

A Career Built on Service

Before joining Wiltshire Police, PC List spent 22 years in the Royal Military Police, rising to the rank of Regimental Sergeant Major. It was a career filled with responsibility, leadership and international deployments – but also one that gradually took him away from the hands‑on policing he loved.

“Being promoted and specialising was rewarding, but it took me away from the essence of the job I joined up to do,” he said. “Wiltshire response has afforded me the opportunity to do just that.”

His policing career began in 1983, during the final years of Judges’ Rules and before the introduction of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 (PACE)- a shift he describes as one of the biggest changes in policing that he has experienced. “The expansion of larger areas to police has obviously changed the scope of policing,” said PC List, “But I was familiar with this having served in Germany previously where the policing areas of responsibility were huge.”

Memorable moments from an extraordinary career

With nearly four decades of policing experience behind him, PC List has no shortage of memorable incidents, but a few stand out.

One involved climbing 20 feet up onto a starch tanker lorry to locate 14 illegal immigrants hiding inside. The incident was so unusual that both custody units had to be closed due to starch contamination.

The Changing Demands of Response Policing

After 19 years on response, PC List has seen the role evolve significantly. One of the biggest challenges, he says, is the reduction of specialist departments, which has placed increasing pressure on response officers.

“The removal of specialist departments leaves ever more onus on response – file preparation, holding onto protracted investigations, all while attending logs. It’s a lot.”

Yet despite the growing demands, he remains committed to the frontline and the communities he serves.

“The best part is dealing with the public. It remains the best and most rewarding job in the world – despite internal or external pressures.”

It’s a sentiment that reflects the core of response policing – being there when people need help most, often in their most difficult moments.