NPCC response to launch of consultation on further emergency services collaboration

National Police Chiefs’ Council Leads for Emergency Services Collaboration and Workforce Development CC Lynne Owens and Giles York said:

“We welcome any opportunity to enable the blue light services to work more effectively together in the public interest. There are significant efforts already being made in this area, for example with some forces now sharing premises with local Fire and Rescue Service and working towards deploying from joint control rooms. These tend to represent pockets of local innovation rather than the delivery of a strategic national plan.

“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.

“We will respond to the consultation more fully in due course, and look forward to continuing to work with the Government on this important issue.”

Further information and the consultation paper can be found here https://www.gov.uk/government/news/proposals-for-further-emergency-services-collaboration-announced