Throughout International Control Room Week, South Yorkshire Police are recognising the control room staff who are often the first point of contact for those in need. The force says the Force Control Room has changed a lot over the years, but one thing that has remained the same is its commitment to the public.
Since merging the four district control rooms in Rotherham, Doncaster, Barnsley and Sheffield into one central Force Control Room at Atlas Court in the early 2000s, the force says it has seen plenty of change. The computers are a lot slimmer and the burnt caramel colour scheme that was so popular decades ago has gone.
South Yorkshire Police say they have launched new technology, including the Victim Journey and National My Police Portal, which enables victims of crime to send messages directly to the officer in charge of their case.
In 2025, the force says the Force Crime Bureau, which is responsible for recording incidents, and the Response Hub, which completes virtual attendance at scenes, moved into the control room. This month the force updated its live chat service, introducing a virtual AI assistant called Bobbi, which provides quick answers to questions.