Cumbria PCC Peter McCall has lost his own consultation on becoming a PFCC (Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner), which he had backed.
Out of the 363 public and stakeholder responses only 46% of respondents wanted to see a Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner in Cumbria, whereas 54% preferred the option of a Combined Fire and Rescue Authority.
Most of the responses were from employees of Cumbria Fire and Rescue, Cumbria County Council and Cumbria Constabulary.
Ed Burrows, Fire Brigades Union North West regional secretary, said:
“Peter McCall has asked the public and workers what they think of his desire to become PFCC and unsurprisingly they have thrown the idea back in his face – in his own consultation. McCall now needs to listen to workers, including members of his own police force, and withdraw this disastrous plan, which he hasn’t even produced a financial assessment for. We cannot go forward with a plan which would risk three fire station closures, which this plan would.”
The Fire Brigades Union had previously criticised the plans on various grounds including the fact it may lead to three fire station closures, putting 18 jobs at risk, as well as concerns about democratic accountability and the separation between police and fire. You can read more detail about these concerns here.
To date, no financial assessment for viability of a change to a PFCC has been produced.
