The Peterborough Evening Telegraph
Criticism as crime chief takes over running of fire service
Home Office signs off change in governance
The Home Office has given the go-ahead for Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner Jason Ablewhite to take on responsibility for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service.
The decision announced on Monday means Mr Ablewhite now becomes the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner after replacing the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority.
It follows the submittal of a business case to the Home Office last October which was then independently assessed.
However, fire authority member Cllr Mohammed Jamil has hit out at the decision. He said: “I’m extremely disappointed it came to this. I do not believe that the police and crime commissioner has the best interests of the fire service at heart.
“It’s more of an asset-stripping exercise to raise more money.”
Mr Ablewhite’s business case promoted closer working between the police and fire service through sharing buildings and land, providing community safety advice and having a more joined up response to incidents.
Mr Ablewhite said: “Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service do a vital job saving lives both through their prevention work, tackling fires and through their many othsmooth er important roles.
“The changes announced today will focus on how the fire service is governed, and I look forward to working with the Fire Authority to ensure a transition of responsibilities.”
Minister for policing and the fire service, Nick Hurd, said: “It’s great to see police and crime commissioners identifying opportunities to drive greater collaboration between police and fire. There is a real opportunity to improve the services provided to local people.
“The proposals will encourage joint working, sharing of best practice and innovative thinking.
“Having a directly accountable leader overseeing both policing and fire will also help maximise available resources and drive transformation across both services.”
The exact date for transfer of responsibilities has yet to be agreed.