In March, Home Secretary Priti Patel announced plans to consult on possible changes to fire governance. The Home Secretary proposed consulting this summer on “whether to mandate the transfer of fire and rescue functions to the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner model across England where boundaries are coterminous, unless there is an option to transfer fire governance directly to an elected Mayor”.
The FBU is opposed to police and crime commissioners (PCCs) taking over fire and rescue services in England and Wales. Fire and rescue is a humanitarian service, not about law enforcement. Firefighters do not want to be swallowed up by police forces. Imposing the PCC model on local people is not democracy. The PFCC model involves less scrutiny and accountability than local government fire authorities.
