Wiltshire Police marks 999 Day of Recognition

Her comments came as the force supported this year's Emergency Services ‘999’ Day of Recognition.

The day is dedicated to showing appreciation for 999 personnel past and present.

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

There are six main branches to the emergency services - Police, Fire and Rescue, Ambulance, NHS, Coastguard and Lifeboats and Search and Rescue. Their team members deliver a range of essential services across the United Kingdom, including answering emergency calls, practicing medicine, fighting fires, working behind the scenes in enabling services, policing the streets and saving lives at sea, on mountains, on lowlands and even in caves.

The Chief Constable said: “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."

Police and Crime Commissioner Philip Wilkinson said: “We owe a huge debt to our emergency service workers - putting their lives on the line every day to keep us safe. Somehow just saying ‘thank you’ doesn’t seem enough.

“The immense pride and deepest gratitude I have for all frontline workers cannot be measured. Public service is more than a job, it’s a way of life.

“Those in public service never think they are doing anything out of the ordinary but they are. Their extraordinary sacrifice, courage and determination to make our communities safer every day can never be under-estimated and, for that, I send my heartfelt thanks.”