His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has today published its first report into South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
The report raises “concerns about the service’s performance in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks”.
This follows a report into North Wales Fire and Rescue Service by Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor and Inspector for Wales, Dan Stephens QFSM published on May 20, which identified serious concerns that the service is failing to meet its legal duties to risk assess for incidents including house fires and standards of firefighter training. [1]
Gareth Tovey, FBU executive council member for Wales said:
Fire and rescue services in Wales are in a state of emergency due to years of underfunding. Today’s report by the inspectorate comes as no surprise.
The inspectorate raises concerns about the service’s performances in keeping people safe and secure from fires.
Bringing the service up to scratch, to adequately protect the public and look after the workforce, requires investment. This cannot be avoided. Instead, the inspectorate ominously suggests that the service must steel itself for the potential of further cuts.
Earlier this week, a Welsh Government report concluded that North Wales Fire and Rescue Service failing to meet legal duties ‘can only be addressed by substantially increasing resources’.
Firefighters across Wales are working in smaller crews covering larger areas with fewer resources, all while tackling increasing extreme weather events such as wildfires and flooding.
We need to see properly funded fire and rescue services, fit to face the challenges laid out in these reports and ready to tackle emerging new risks.”
