Fire Service Neutrality

This Conference is extremely concerned at the shift in focus of the Fire Service towards crime prevention activities which is threatening the long standing Fire Service position of neutrality. In certain areas the Fire Service is increasingly being used as an extension of the police force with fire crews being expected to take on the role of crime reduction officers. In some brigades police officers have even been deployed on fire appliances. This Conference instructs the Executive Council to raise this issue within the relevant forums and instructs Brigade Committees to resist any further move towards the Fire Service becoming an extension of the police force.