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| Fire service needs transforming, says government review | Fire service needs transforming, says government review |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Fire and rescue services in England need to be "transformed" to become more efficient and effective, a government-commissioned review has said. | Fire and rescue services in England need to be "transformed" to become more efficient and effective, a government-commissioned review has said. |
| Sir Ken Knight said incidents were down 40% over the past decade but the number of firefighters was roughly the same. | Sir Ken Knight said incidents were down 40% over the past decade but the number of firefighters was roughly the same. |
| Former chief fire and rescue adviser Sir Ken said having 46 separate authorities was not "sensible". | Former chief fire and rescue adviser Sir Ken said having 46 separate authorities was not "sensible". |
| His ideas for the future included the creation of a single fire service for England, mirroring Scotland's system. | His ideas for the future included the creation of a single fire service for England, mirroring Scotland's system. |
| Ideas for debate | Ideas for debate |
| Sir Ken, who recently retired as the government's chief fire and rescue adviser, also found inexplicable variations in the amount different fire and rescue authorities were spending. | |
| After finding that, in some areas, services cost twice as much to provide as they do elsewhere, he suggested tens of millions of pounds could be saved every year. | After finding that, in some areas, services cost twice as much to provide as they do elsewhere, he suggested tens of millions of pounds could be saved every year. |
| Sir Ken said many local authorities were considering ways to save money in fire services - including mergers, new shift patterns and greater use of part-time firefighters. | Sir Ken said many local authorities were considering ways to save money in fire services - including mergers, new shift patterns and greater use of part-time firefighters. |
| But he warned the "scale of change is unlikely to be achieved through local action alone". | But he warned the "scale of change is unlikely to be achieved through local action alone". |
| The review noted little change in expenditure and personnel levels despite the decrease in the number of call-outs. | The review noted little change in expenditure and personnel levels despite the decrease in the number of call-outs. |
| Although the report made no firm recommendations, it listed a number of ideas for future debate. | Although the report made no firm recommendations, it listed a number of ideas for future debate. |
| These included more collaboration between fire and and other emergency services, privatisation, as well as the possibility of a single fire service for England. | These included more collaboration between fire and and other emergency services, privatisation, as well as the possibility of a single fire service for England. |
| 'Need to answer' | 'Need to answer' |
| Sir Ken insisted the review was about adjusting the service to current needs, not cutting it. | Sir Ken insisted the review was about adjusting the service to current needs, not cutting it. |
| He said: "When I was a firefighter, fire deaths in the home were 700 and 800 a year. Now, they're 180 a year. | He said: "When I was a firefighter, fire deaths in the home were 700 and 800 a year. Now, they're 180 a year. |
| "It's a really good news story but the service itself must adapt and change, not only to maintain that fire safety and prevention front, but to adapt its service. | "It's a really good news story but the service itself must adapt and change, not only to maintain that fire safety and prevention front, but to adapt its service. |
| "So why have - even though those fires have gone down 40% - the numbers of firefighters have remained broadly the same. | "So why have - even though those fires have gone down 40% - the numbers of firefighters have remained broadly the same. |
| "It's a question that the local authorities and fire authorities will need to address and need to answer." | "It's a question that the local authorities and fire authorities will need to address and need to answer." |
| Ministers will now consider the findings. | Ministers will now consider the findings. |
| The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was created on 1 April, replacing the country's previous eight regional services. | The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service was created on 1 April, replacing the country's previous eight regional services. |
| The Scottish government said savings could be made by pooling resources into one, therefore protecting front-line staff and services. | The Scottish government said savings could be made by pooling resources into one, therefore protecting front-line staff and services. |
| There is a new headquarters in Perth, with three operational "hubs" in the north, west and east of Scotland. | There is a new headquarters in Perth, with three operational "hubs" in the north, west and east of Scotland. |