TACTICAL RESPONSE REFERS TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF RESOURCES IN RESPONSE TO CALLS FOR ASSISTANCE. THE FIRST PAPER REVIEWS THE HISTORY OF TACTICAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM, POINTING OUT MILESTONES IN THE INTRODUCTION OF COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY TO ASSIST OFFICERS PATROLLING ON FOOT AND IN VEHICLES. EMPHASIS IS PLACED ON PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE TWO-TIER COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM LINKING CENTRAL CONTROL AND PATROL OFFICERS, AND WITH THE INCREASING USE OF THE 999 EMERGENCY TELEPHONE NUMBER BY THE PUBLIC. ANOTHER PAPER TRACES THE INTRODUCTION OF COMPUTER-BASED COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS, DESCRIBING IN DETAIL DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS IN BIRMINGHAM AND GLASGOW. THE USE OF COMPUTERS IN RURAL POLICING IS ALSO DISCUSSED. THE THIRD PAPER DESCRIBES COOPERATION BETWEEN POLICE AND THE BRITISH COMPUTER INDUSTRY IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF TACTICAL RESPONSE SYSTEMS; OUTLINES DESIGN FACTORS IN SUCH SYSTEMS; AND CONSIDERS FUTURE TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREA OF AUTOMATED VEHICLE LOCATION. IT IS POINTED OUT THAT THE OBJECTIVE OF COMPUTERBASED COMMAND AND CONTROL SYSTEMS IS TWOFOLD: TO ENSURE THE FASTEST POSSIBLE RESPONSE OF THE BEST AVAILABLE RESOURCE TO INCIDENTS REQUIRING POLICE ASSISTANCE; AND TO PROVIDE INFORMATION REQUIRED FOR EFFECTIVE POLICE MANAGEMENT.