NFCC introduces national risk methodologies to support management planning

The Road Traffic Collision Risk Methodology is among a set of evidence-based risk assessment methodologies that can be used by all UK Fire and Rescue Services. It sets out to establish a consistent approach to understanding the risk, likelihood and consequence of road traffic collisions across the country, and will assist each Fire and Rescue Service to assess their preparedness, prevention and response.

Dan Quin, chief fire officer at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and the NFCC’s executive lead for road safety, explained: “This methodology highlights the significance of Fire and Rescue Service involvement with road safety, in addition to the importance of a joined-up and co-ordinated approach involving our road safety partners.”

Quin continued: “We set out to understand the national picture of risk identification and assessment and created a standardised, data-led tool and evidence-based methodology. This will support decision-making on how to mitigate road safety risk locally and support national comparison and collaboration activities across England, Scotland and Wales.”

Fire interventions

The final community risk management planning guidance which has been launched as part of a series is the Evaluation of Fire Interventions. This document is intended to develop the UK Fire and Rescue Service’s ability to complete robust evaluations across prevention, protection and response.

In 2018, an independent review of community risk management across the UK found that different approaches were being taken by Fire and Rescue Services. That finding was echoed in the first State of Fire Report issued by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services, which set out recommendations to address the issue.

The tools that have been produced by the NFCC will help Fire and Rescue Services to consistently identify, assess and mitigate community risks and provide both a framework and systemic approach for developing community risk management plans.

The NFCC has also worked with the Fire Standards Board to produce a fire standard for community risk management and also delivered several pieces of guidance and tools that are now being used by Fire and Rescue Services.