By: Kat Jeffery
BAPCO 2026 brought a clear sense of direction for UK control rooms, not just in terms of technology, but in the shared intent across the sector.
Across two days at the Coventry Building Society Arena, conversations spanning the exhibition floor, conference sessions and wider community reinforced a collective focus: enhancing public safety through smarter, more connected and more effective control room environments, with people firmly at the centre.
There was a tangible sense of momentum throughout, alongside an openness about the challenges ahead. That balance continues to define the UK public safety community.
ESN: progress, patience, and the path forward
The Emergency Services Network remained central to discussions throughout the event.
With full voice services targeting Q2 2028, and the start of mass transition expected later that year, the conversation has shifted beyond whether ESN will happen to how organisations prepare for and manage the transition.
Sessions and discussions highlighted the importance of operational continuity during this period of change. Interoperability between Airwave and ESN, user readiness, and integration across control room environments are now critical focus areas.
There was also a notable level of transparency around the challenges. From programme updates to informal discussions, the willingness to engage openly reflects a sector working collaboratively to deliver a complex national transformation.
AI and cloud: from concept to operational reality
Artificial intelligence is no longer positioned as a future capability. It is now part of active operational consideration.
Across the conference programme, sessions such as AI Developments in Public Safety drew strong engagement, reflecting both the pace of innovation and the sector’s focus on practical application.
Conversations consistently centred on real world impact:
- How AI can support call handlers under pressure
- How quickly critical information can be surfaced
- How to ensure responsible and transparent deployment
The shift from pilot programmes to procurement and deployment is clearly underway, supported by growing interest in cloud-based platforms and interoperable data environments.
Demonstrating the future of CAD in practice
At BAPCO 2026, Zetron focused on demonstrating how these themes translate into real control room workflows.
A key part of this was a demonstration of a 999 call handled end to end within Zetron CAD. This showcased Zetron CAD as an AI first solution, leveraging integrated AI services, including capabilities provided by Untrite.
Through this, we demonstrated how AI can support operators in real time with:
- Real time transcription and translation
- THRIVE based risk assessment support
- Incident classification and prioritisation
- Immediate access to relevant caller information and history
These capabilities are embedded within the workflow to support the operator with insight and guidance, while keeping decision making firmly in human control.
Alongside this, Zetron showcased Untrite’s THRIVE capability, including how structured assessments can be completed within the control room environment to support consistent and informed decision making.
Feedback during the event reinforced the value of these capabilities.
“Really impressed with the AI transcripts and risk assessments. You can immediately see how valuable seconds are saved in the control room.”
— Paul Richardson, Independent Technical & Business Consultant
Across both existing customers and new conversations, there was consistent feedback that Zetron’s CAD direction is closely aligned with the pressures control rooms are facing today, particularly around demand, speed and decision making.
A sector aligned
What stood out most at BAPCO 2026 was not just the scale of innovation on display, but the alignment across the sector.
From frontline perspectives to strategic leadership, there is a shared commitment to improving public safety outcomes through more connected, resilient and intelligent control room environments.
As the sector continues to navigate the ESN transition and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI, that alignment, combined with open and constructive dialogue, will remain critical to success.
