Home Secretary, Theresa May MP, has this week written to all Fire Chiefs and Chairs of Fire and Rescue authorities in England.
In her letter (embedded below), Ms May reveals that responsibility for Fire and Rescue Policy is being transferred from the DCLG (Department for Communities and Local Government) to the Home Office.
First step?
Cllr Phil Jordan, executive member for Public health, Public Protection and the PFI, is concerned the change, which will take immediate effect, is the first step towards transferring responsibility of the Fire Service from local authorities (in this case, the Isle of Wight council) over to Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC), which operates over the whole of the Hampshire region.
Changes also see former firefighter, Mike Penning MP, extend his responsibilities for Policing, Criminal Justice and Victims, to include becoming the new Fire Minister.
Jordan: Concerns about ‘blue light’ integration
Cllr Jordan told OnTheWight,
“We’ve already been involved in a consultation process and have written to the Fire Minister, Mark Francois, voicing some concerns about ‘blue light’ integration.
“I’ve had discussions with Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and rescue services, as well as the Police and Crime Commissioner, and views have been exchanged.
“I understand the Government wants to get ‘blue light’ integration of emergency services, but great collaborative working between the Fire Service and Police are already taking place without any forced integration.”
Integration could be enforced
Cllr Jordan went on to add,
“My view is that the transfer of the Fire Service from DCLG to the Home Office is the first step towards full integration sometime in the very near future. The decision remains a Government one and my understanding is that the Police and Crime Commissioner alone will be able to make representation or bid to Government for any Integration process to take place.
“Currently, it seems, the Local Authority and the Fire Authority – which is, in fact, the 40 elected Isle of Wight Councillors – will have no say in the whether or not Integration of the Fire Service and Police will take place on our Island.”
PCC elections
Simon Hayes has been the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Police and Crime Commissionersince being elected in November 2012.
Elections for the PCC take place in May 2016.
The letter
The letter from Theresa May to all Fire Chiefs and Chairs of Fire and Rescue authorities in England can be seen below. Click on the full screen icon to see larger version.
Image: foreignofficeunder CC BY 2.0
