Dear Brother/Sister
In September, the Westminster government opened a consultation on 'Enabling Closer Working between the Emergency Services'. If they put their proposals into law, it would allow Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) to take over the management of Fire and Rescue Services in England. They also want to scrap the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Authority and to allow police Chief Constables to become Chief Fire Officers.
The union believes these steps would seriously undermine the service firefighters provide to the public, damage the functioning and reputation of the Fire and Rescue Service, diminish local democracy and worsen firefighters' working conditions. Our service is about humanitarian assistance, not law enforcement. Many stakeholders, councillors and other elected representatives, including MPs share the FBU's concerns.
The FBU has made a submission to the public consultation on this issue, which urges the government to stop and think again before it damages our irreplaceable public service. This can be found on the union's website.
We have already begun to gather wider support, including through an emergency resolution to the TUC Congress in September. The TUC has also made a submission against the proposals.
Head Office will produce further materials in the near future. PCCs are up for election/re-election in May 2016, so the union will be organising campaigns nationally and locally to oppose this attack over the coming months.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
MATT WRACK
GENERAL SECRETARY
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