The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) is in “desperate need of investment”, the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has warned following a “damning” inspection report.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) decided HIWFRS requires improvement on ‘responding to fires and emergencies’ which the FBU said was the “result of over 14 years of cuts to firefighter posts”.
Graded across 11 areas
The report looked at HIWFRS’s effectiveness, efficiency and ‘how well it looks after its people’, grading it across 11 areas.
HIWFRS’s chief officer Neil Odin said inspectors had “found areas where we are doing well”, “recognised improvements” and “identified some things we still need to work on”.
Major service changes
Inspectors’ findings have been published amid HIWFRS’s proposal of major service changes on the Island, including the possible closure of two stations in Bembridge and Yarmouth and removing Newport’s Aerial Ladder Platform vehicle.
The service received an inadequate grade for ‘getting the right people with the right skills’ and was also told it requires improvement for ‘making the best use of resources’ and ‘ensuring fairness and promoting diversity’.
Adequate
Five adequate areas include ‘understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies’, ‘protecting the public through fire regulation’ and ‘responding to major and multi-agency incidents’.
HIWFRS was graded good for ‘preventing fires and other risks’ and making the service ‘affordable now and in the future’.
It was not given any outstanding grades.
Kelly: In desperate need of investment
Jamie Kelly, FBU brigade secretary for Hampshire and Isle of Wight said,
“The inspectorate’s report makes it clear that Hampshire and Isle of Wight is in desperate need of investment, at a time when the chief fire officer is threatening further devastating cuts.
“The damning conclusion that the service ‘requires improvement’ at responding to fires and emergencies is the result of over 14 years of cuts to firefighter posts.
“The public deserve a service that can send firefighters out quickly to incidents. Yet, right now, as firefighters from across the region tackle the major incident in Dorset, we have only 23 of 80 fire engines available due to lack of crews.
“On top of this, senior management need to show leadership when it comes to tackling bullying, harassment and discrimination.
“Slashing the number of firefighters instead of taking action and calling for government investment will only deepen the crisis laid out in the report.”
Odin: We are already making progress in the areas for improvement
Neil Odin said,
“I am pleased the report recognises our focus on understanding risks in our communities and helping people stay safe by preventing fires, including the delivery of a record number of home fire safety visits. There is also praise for our volunteers and the work we do with young people.
“We are already making progress in the areas for improvement. One of the areas flagged by the inspectors relates to a nightly software update that impacts our mobilisation system.
“I would like to reassure our communities that this is an administrative issue and does not affect our operational capabilities or response to incidents, a manual fix is in place and has proven to safeguard against any potential impact to mobilisation.”
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
