Police and Crime Commissioners

On 31 January 2017, the Policing and Crime Act received royal assent and became law in England. FBU policy, as set down at the 2015 conference and in subsequent Executive Council papers, including our submission to the Westminster government’s consultation in October 2015, is to oppose Police and Crime Commissioners (PCCs) taking over the governance of fi re and rescue services. The union believes that such a step could adversely affect the service fi refi ghters provide to the public, damage the functioning and reputation of the fi re and rescue service, diminish local democracy and worsen fi refi ghters’ working conditions. Conference notes the extensive time and resources expended by the union in pursuit of the union’s opposition and in seeking to persuade the government to think again on its proposals. Although Labour MPs and Lords tabled constructive amendments to tackle the worst aspects of the new law, these were rejected. The Executive Council recognised at its December 2016 meeting that the new law would reach the statute book this year. Head offi ce convened a strategy meeting on 31 January 2017 with offi cials from the brigades most likely to be affected by the new legislation in the short term. The Executive Council recognises that now the law has been enacted, national and local offi cials will need to negotiate with any PCC that does gain permission to run fi re and rescue services to secure the best deal for FBU members. We have highlighted a number of key threats, which offi cials need to negotiate on to protect members.

These include;

• The single employer model, which could permit increasingly integrated police and fi re services including combined senior management, common complaints and conduct systems, and joint support services and could seriously undermine firefighters’ terms and conditions • NJC terms and conditions (including rolemaps)

• Non-warranted policing activities

• Dual fi re and police control operators

• Redundancies and a reduction in the establishment

• Downgrading pumps and stations

• Privatisation

• So-called effi ciency savings from fi re diverted to other work.

Conference instructs the executive council;

1. To maintain the FBU’s principled opposition to PCCs taking over fire and rescue services during any consultations

2. To campaign against the single employer model

3. To ensure that the neutrality of the FRS is maintained

4. To negotiate nationally and locally with PCCs who do take over fi re and rescue services to ensure the best arrangements for our members

5. To ensure that fi re service budgets are protected and kept separate from the police budget

6. To keep these matters under review and to monitor developments as necessary