This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34224491

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
PCCs could take control of England's fire services Fire chiefs could run English police forces under plans
(about 2 hours later)
Police and Crime Commissioners could become responsible for fire services in England under government proposals. Fire chiefs could become chief constables despite no previous experience of arresting criminals, the government has proposed.
The Home Office says the elected commissioners could take over fire services in areas "where a local case is made". The idea appears in proposals to allow elected Police and Crime Commissioners to take over fire services in England.
The plan is part of a broader strategy to merge parts of emergency service planning. The consultation says a fire chief with no experience as a constable could run both services, under a PCC.
But the Fire Brigade's Union has warned the proposal would compromise firefighters' independence. The national body for police chiefs has already said it is "surprised" by the idea.
In the consultation published by the Home Office, ministers say that they want to encourage more "efficiency and effectiveness" by placing a legal duty on all three emergency services to work together. The proposals are part of a broad and detailed strategy to merge parts of emergency service planning and management.
This could ultimately include PCCs taking on the work of fire and rescue authorities, bringing police and fire staff into a single organisation. Ministers say this would cut costs and "streamline management". Elected PCCs currently oversee the work of each police force and they have the power to appoint chief constables - while a separate body made up of local councillors oversees fire and rescue services.
'Work closely related' In the consultation, published by the Home Office, ministers say that they want to encourage more "efficiency and effectiveness" by placing a legal duty on all emergency services to work together.
Ministers are also proposing abolishing separate fire authorities in London and Greater Manchester and transferring their functions to mayors. Although Wales has elected PCCs, control of fire services was devolved to the Welsh Assembly, meaning that the Home Office has no say in their future. They say this could ultimately include some PCCs taking over fire and rescue authorities - and that would mean creating a single organisation made up of police and fire staff.
That new body would need a chief officer answerable to a PCC - and this post would have to be a chief constable.
"The post of chief officer would be open to both senior police officers and fire officers, since they will have relevant experience," says the document.
"To achieve this, we will remove the requirement for senior fire officers applying for chief constable roles to previously have been a constable."
While proposals to bring fire services under PCC control have been expected, the National Police Chiefs Council did not appear to know ministers would were going to propose allowing fire chiefs to seek the top job.
Chief Constables Lynne Owens and Giles York, who speak for the police on national emergency services and workforce issues, said: "It was surprising to see the suggestion that a chief fire officer would be eligible to apply for the chief constable post included in the government's proposal.
"This seems to suggest a fundamental change to the current position in which chief constables hold the office of constable and are experienced in the exercise of those powers.
"We will look to work with the Home Office and College of Policing to better understand what is proposed to enable a full and thoughtful response to this issue, grounded in public, not self, interest."
Policing minister Mike Penning, a former firefighter, said: "It simply doesn't make sense for emergency services to have different premises, different back offices and different IT systems when their work is so closely related and they often share the same boundaries.Policing minister Mike Penning, a former firefighter, said: "It simply doesn't make sense for emergency services to have different premises, different back offices and different IT systems when their work is so closely related and they often share the same boundaries.
"Directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners are accountable to the people they serve and uniquely placed to improve the way the emergency services are delivered at a local level, and we propose enabling them to take responsibility for the fire and rescue service where a local case is made." "Directly elected Police and Crime Commissioners are accountable to the people they serve and uniquely placed to improve the way the emergency services are delivered at a local level."
'Very different remit' The Fire Brigades Union has already said it will fight plans to merge its service with police.
The Association of Police and Crime Commissioners says it supports the proposals - but the Fire Brigades Union said they were undemocratic and would result in chaos. "Police are law enforcers, while fire and rescue is a humanitarian service with a very different remit and culture," said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack.
"There is absolutely no case for PCCs to take over the fire and rescue service," said FBU general secretary Matt Wrack. "Firefighters need to be seen to be neutral within the communities they serve."
"PCCs have no genuine democratic mandate or understanding of the role and function of the fire and rescue service.
"Police are law enforcers, while fire and rescue is a humanitarian service with a very different remit and culture.
"Firefighters need to be seen to be neutral within the communities they serve. Links with law enforcers will damage the much needed trust and reputation firefighters have built up in neighbourhoods over decades, trust they depend on to gain access to people's homes when needed for fire prevention and rescue work."
Ministers say that the law preventing police officers being firefighters would remain and, correspondingly, firefighters would not get the power of arrest. Funding for the two organisations would also remain separate.
The consultation closes on 23 October.The consultation closes on 23 October.