HMICFRS: “More powers needed to ensure Fire and Rescue Services make urgent changes”

For example, the Government should make it a legal requirement for Fire and Rescue Authorities to publish a response to inspection reports. It should also prioritise reform and publicly commit to an achievable timescale for making its proposed changes.

For their part, Fire and Rescue Services must do more to improve their values and culture in order to remove unacceptable behaviours such as bullying, harassment and discrimination, which persist in small pockets.

What’s more, it’s Cooke’s considered opinion that Fire and Rescue Service leaders are not being strategic enough in relation to how they make improvements. This can lead to ineffective decisions being made, which ultimately renders the public less safe.

Cooke explained: “I’m continually taken aback by the unwavering commitment of firefighters and other members of Fire and Rescue Services’ staff. There are countless example of this, in fact. They all play a vital role in keeping the public and our wider communities safe.”

He continued: “I know that many Fire and Rescue Services have faced yet another difficult year, with financial pressures, recruitment challenges and having to deal with the consequences of extreme weather all part of the equation, but it’s crucial that these difficulties do not overshadow the need for urgent change. The Government’s proposals for reform are promising, but they cannot be delayed any further.”

Further, Cooke noted: “Systemic challenges are preventing Fire and Rescue Services from improving. While we’ve witnessed some progress since we began inspecting Fire and Rescue Services back in 2018, this has been far too slow. Services must be supported in being able to adapt to and address these challenges, as well as those of the future. That’s why I’m calling for new powers to make sure that the sector acts on our recommendations such that it can give the public the service it rightly deserves.”

National recommendations

The Inspectorate’s three remaining national recommendations, which could be addressed through effective reform, are as follows:

*the Home Office should precisely determine the role of Fire and Rescue Services in order to remove any ambiguity

*the sector should review how effectively pay and conditions are determined

*the Home Office should invest chief fire officers with operational independence, whether through primary legislation or in some other manner

Read the report in full online: State of Fire and Rescue: The Annual Assessment of Fire and Rescue Services in England 2023

Response from the FBU

Responding to the Inspectorate’s report, Matt Wrack (general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union) said: “This report does not add much to the discussion over the future of the Fire and Rescue Service as a whole and the issues it faces. Since 2010, we’ve lost 30% of central Government funding, while one-in-five firefighter jobs have disappeared. Response times are worse than ever. The report has little to say on this particular matter.”

Wrack went on to comment: “It’s right to note the urgent need for action on equalities, yet there’s little in the way of reflection on the Inspectorate’s own failure to spot serious instances of discrimination, harassment and bullying in a number of Fire and Rescue Services.”

Wrack feels Cooke is right to recognise the influence of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU). “As the only democratic voice for the firefighting profession, the FBU has played a leading role in fighting for equality in the Fire and Rescue Services for decades. We reject any attack on collective bargaining. The National Joint Council already provides a highly successful framework for facilitating agreements on pay, conditions, the role of firefighters and progress on equalities. Andy Cooke fails to acknowledge this work. We’ve always offered to meet with HMICFRS to discuss the role and function of collective bargaining. That offer has not been taken up.”

On that note, Wrack “Instead, the report doggedly pushes an agenda which has little support in the Fire and Rescue Service. Pushing a policing model on to the Fire and Rescue Service, or seeking to combine structures, undermines public trust. Firefighting is a highly skilled and humanitarian profession. Its leaders cannot be ‘parachuted-in’ from outside.”

According to Wrack, operational independence for chief fire officers is a “dangerous proposition” further undermining vital systems of accountability and democracy for Fire and Rescue Services.

In conclusion, Wrack explained: “HMICFRS could – and should – have a vital role to play in holding chief fire officers to account and improving the Fire and Rescue Service. To do this, though, it must be truly independent of the Westminster Government’s agenda. We need urgent investment, national standards and a voice for firefighters.”

Vital role

Responding to the HMICFRS’ report, National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) chair Mark Hardingham said: “Our Fire and Rescue Services undertake a vital role in keeping communities safe. They do so across a variety of different roles, often moving towards danger, while helping others to escape it. The HMICFRS report rightly acknowledges the significant levels of dedication seen across our sector in keeping the public safe and responding to major events.”

Hardingham continued: “The NFCC wholeheartedly agrees that our sector must adapt to meet the changing needs of our communities, while the Inspectorate’s acknowledgement of some of the challenges we face – not least in terms of financial pressures, recruitment challenges, the sustainability of the on-call duty system, health and well-being and dealing with the consequences of extreme weather – really puts that work into context.”

In addition, Hardingham outlined: “We know that there’s a lot of hard work going on to improve Fire and Rescue Services across the country, and it’s welcome to see on record the progress that has been made, including against the recommendations issued from the Grenfell Tower Inquiry. We’re determined to continue our role in driving progress and are bolstered by the Inspectorate’s commendation of the NFCC’s work to promote improvements in areas such as values, culture, leadership and safeguarding.”

The NFCC’s foremost priority is improving organisational culture across the Fire and Rescue Services. “We know that this is crucial for maintaining public trust and confidence and ensuring that our sector is a safe and welcoming place for all. The HMICFRS report is clear that unacceptable behaviour remains commonplace. We agree that all parts of the Fire and Rescue Service, including national functions, have a role to play in improving organisational culture and dealing with misconduct.”

Finally, Hardingham stated: “We know that inclusive culture, and effective and efficient Fire and Rescue Services, rely on strong and supportive leadership. We therefore continue to welcome the proposal for investment into a College of Fire and Rescue, and the importance of further engagement about how it’s established and structured, for the benefit of Fire and Rescue Services and the communities they serve so diligently.”