Dear Brother / Sister
HOME OFFICE REPORT - FRS (ENGLAND) COMPLIANCE WITH NATIONAL FRAMEWORK
This circular brings attention to the above-named document, published today, 21 July 2020.
The report states that the Home Office “is satisfied that every fire and rescue authority in England has acted in accordance with the requirements of the [Fire and Rescue] National Framework” having “carried out a sample of fire and rescue authority assurance statements”.
The Home Office has made this declaration despite referencing the HMICFRS inspections which were all completed and subject to report by December 2019 in which “Three services were graded as inadequate at pillar level. These were Avon (on people), Surrey (on efficiency) and West Sussex (on people)” and in addition, citing HMICFRS’s ‘State of Fire’ report published in January which, in the Home Office report’s words, “raised concerns that some services need to do more on ensuring compliance with fire safety regulations, that there is a notable lack of diversity, and stressed the need for improved leadership.”
Moreover, the clean bill of health has been given despite the fact that we are in the middle of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry into the tragic deaths of 72 people which has already found cause to make 34 numbered recommendations.
The report can be found on the Home Office’s website which, at time of writing, can be accessed using this link.
Best wishes.
Yours fraternally
ANDY DARK
Assistant General Secretary
