Memorandum from Fire and Rescue in the
North West (NW 22)
1. SUMMARY
— Fire, despite its positive and continuous
reducing trend, remains one of the major threats to communities
in the UK today.[52]
— Nationally the total number of fire incidents
per year continues to fall[53]
and this is reflected regionally across the North West.
— Previous experience has shown us that
fire and its effects are potentially an increased risk during
periods of sustained and prolonged economic recession. The risks
include; the potential for an increase in arson and deliberate
fires with its links to crime, anti social behaviour and health
(alcohol and mental health). Together with a real potential for
the increase in accidental fires in the home, including fire deaths
and injuries and their direct link to deprivation, poverty, worklessness,
lack of opportunity and health.
— Across the North West, Fire and Rescue
is working pro-actively together and with key partners and stakeholders
to anticipate, identify and mitigate any potential risk for our
communities falling out of the current recession. This is especially
relevant in relation to our work with young people and those communities
identified as at risk and vulnerable, such as the elderly. Our
Home Safety programme is especially significant, where in the
last twelve months we have visited more than 299,000 homes
across the North West.
— The potential risk and its challenges
can not be ignored and any risk arising from the current economic
climate should also be considered against the likelihood of other
converging risks, such as the current flu outbreak and the forecasted
climatic changes for a hot summer period, with the possibility
of severe heat waves.
2. INTRODUCTION
2.1 The effects of any economic recession
are wide spread and complex. They do not discriminate between
People or Place, Service or Agency. The challenge is for all Services
and agencies to both recognise and understand their contribution
to reducing the risk and consequences for our communities. This
report and evidence is intended to highlight how Fire and Rescue
in the North West understands its shared responsibility and more
importantly how collectively it sees its self as part of the wider
partnership solution to the ongoing and increasing effects of
the current economic downturn.
2.2 Collaboratively, Fire and Rescue through
the auspices of the North West Fire and Rescue Management Board
(NWFRMB) is committed to working with and supporting other regional
organisations and in particular Government Office for the North
West (GONW), North West Regional Development Agency (NWRDA) and
the North West Improvement & Efficiency Partnership (NWIEP).
2.3 Our work in tackling the wider social
and economic causes/impacts of fire in the community is recognised
as having a growing significance against the delivery of local,
sub-regional and regional priorities. This is especially reflected
in our contribution within Local Area Agreements, where partners
and local areas (12 out of 23) have agreed fire reduction
as a priority target, in recognition of its connectivity with
other leading priorities such as crime, anti social behaviour,
health (alcohol and smoking) and social inclusion.
2.4 Fire and Rescue is also an integral
delivery partner within the North West Improvement and Efficiency
Partnership. As well as being actively involved within sub-regional
programmes, Fire and Rescue in the North West has its own sub-regional
delivery programme. The programme aims to deliver improvement
and efficiency across four key delivery areas of: Innovation,
Sustainability, Value for Money and Community Leadership.
2.5 Nationally, Fire and Rescue within the
North West is recognised by its peers, the Department for Communities
and Local Government (DCLG) and more importantly, our inspectorate
the Audit Commission (and our collective Comprehensive Performance
Assessment results) as being a leader in delivering improved,
meaningful and sustainable community safety across the region
and its local communities. Our success is as much about how we
work together and with our partners than our individual performance.
Notably, Fire and Rescue in the North West has also received Beacon
Status within five individual delivery areas namely: Community
Cohesion, Older People, Young People at Risk, and more recently
Health and Inequalities
3. FIRE AND
THE IMPACTS
OF RECESSION
3.1 The economic cost of fire for the UK
(measured by cost against the number of fire incidents)[54]
can directly contribute towards and sustain the impacts of an
economic recession. The figures for 2004 showed the total
cost of fire for England and Wales to be estimated at £6.6 billion,
£2.2 billion of which was attributable to arson and deliberate
fires. The latest findings are due for publication and are expected
to show a rise in absolute terms, even though actual fire statistics
show an overall reducing trend across the UK.
3.2 The numbers of fires and fire related
deaths (accidental and deliberate causes) across the North West,
show a continued downward trend in excess of the UK and English
averages.[55]
For the period up to and including June 2008, all fires across
the North West compared to the corresponding and previous 12 month
period were reduced by an average of 19%, compared to the English
average of 16%. For the same period fire related deaths in the
North West were reduced by an average of 28%, compared to a 1%
increase across England (5% increase across the UK)
3.3 Not withstanding the above performance,
Fire and Rescue in the North West recognises we are all facing
a period of unprecedented economic uncertainty and instability.
We will therefore, not be complacent in determining the risk and
its challenges, as we remain fully aware of the experience from
previous economic recessions, which for the same periods showed
a marked increase in the number of fires and related deaths and
injuries.
3.4 Fire and Rescue is embedded throughout
the diverse and changing communities of the North West. It has
become an integral player within both the local and strategic
partnership network, working and delivering innovative partnerships
within the Public, Private and Voluntary sectors. Fire and Rescue
is able to offer detailed and focussed risk information and evidence,
together with valuable resources aimed at working pro- actively
to identify, tackle and reduce both risk and vulnerability within
our communities.
3.5 Fire and its wider effects in the community
are reflective of social and economic trends, presenting increased
risk when linked to any period of prolonged economic recession.
At the same time fire can also directly compound local economics
and recession, suppressing and even restricting recovery, especially
within areas more directly affected by economic consequences,
such as areas with underlying unemployment, deprivation, lack
of opportunity and poor health.
3.6 The prevention, protection and response
to fire and its consequences is therefore directly aligned to
tackling the broader issues linked to a local community and its
underlying social and economic factors. These fire risk
interdependencies can be identified as;
3.7 Increased risk of Arson and deliberate
(anti social behaviour) fires. These types of incidents
and their location are a direct reflection of the wider issues
of increased crime that could be associated with the possible
impacts of an economic recession—for example:
— Arson affecting increased void and vacant
housing.
— Arson affecting empty and unused business
premises.
— Failing business prompting fraud through
arson.
— Increased arson threat to public buildings
such as schools.
— Stolen and abandoned vehicles involved
in arson.
— Anti-social behaviour and criminal damage—deliberate
anti social behaviour fires.
— Domestic abuse and violent behaviour/crime
linked to arson and murder.
3.8 Increased risk of accidental fires,
fire deaths and injuries. These types of incidents are
a direct reflection of the wider social and health issues associated
with the possible impacts of an economic recession— for
example:
— Increased fuel poverty—affecting
heating, lighting and cooking, leading to the increased risk of
fires in the home.
— Poor health—Increased smoking,
alcohol and drug use, mental illness/depression.
These factors are an especially high risk
for the already vulnerable groups within our communities, such
as older people, people with severe health, mental and physical
disabilities, BME, migrant and emerging new communities.
4. FIRE AND
RESCUE RESPONSE
4.1 Home Safety Assessments—As
part of an extensive programme of home safety assessment, Fire
and Rescue across the North West accesses and undertakes more
than 299,000 individual home safety visits. No other Service
or agency offer this capability or capacity to directly access
and engage with individuals and families in their homes. Because
of this, our work in this area has now developed into a wider
partnership approach, using specialist fire advocates and working
with key agencies and services to deliver a broader community
safety service. Examples include:
— Working with Primary Care Trusts and
Health to deliver flu inoculations to the elderly, together with
education and advice on protection against slips, trips and falls
in the home.
— Crime reduction by working to help advise
and sign post crime prevention in the home.
— Environmental and sustainability through
energy saving and waste/recycling advice.
— Working with Social Services, Health
and agencies like Age Concern to carry out and share information
on Single point assessments for older and vulnerable members of
the community.
— Addressing the issues of fuel poverty
to help vulnerable groups stay warm (safely) in their homes.
— Specialist referrals for BME and migrant
community risks.
— Specialist programmes for vulnerable
groups like the blind and mentally/physically disabled groups.
4.2 Young People—Fire and Rescue
in the North West has long recognised the benefits of working
with young people in our communities to reduce fires, anti social
behaviour and malicious calls. Primarily, the branding and image
of the Service is one that's seen by young people as being non
confrontational, impartial and neutral to authority, unlike perceptions
some times identified with the police and other criminal justice,
social and educational departments.
4.3 This unique attribute also provides
an atmosphere of respect and trust, which allows us to engage
with young people normally seen as difficult to reach. Our programmes
are built around developing and changing attitudes and behaviour,
helping young people to both develop and realise their potential
within a disciplined, team based and role model framework. Our
work is closely aligned to and reflective of the national curriculum
and "Every Child Matters" delivery framework.
4.4 The Fire and Rescue Service in the North
West undertakes an extensive programme of youth engagement projects,
some main examples of which include:
— Princes Trust Team—This programme
for 16 to 25 year olds is run across the North West,
where Fire and Rescue is recognised as a key delivery provider
and partner. The North West Fire and Rescue programme currently
delivers 74 courses (which equates to more than 800 young
people) per year and is recognised for having an 80% success rate
in helping young people return to either full time education or
employment.
— Fire cadet/young firefighter Schemes.
This programme is again run at a local level across the North
West providing regionally more than 45 local projects for
700 young people aged 11 to 17 years of age.
— A combination of the above schemes have
been successfully adapted to be run in partnership with local
North West youth justice establishments such as Lancaster Farms
and the Thorn Cross Young Offenders Institute. Fire and Rescue
is working with the Youth Justice Board (YJB), Government Office
North West (Children and Learners) and Hindley (YOI) to further
establish this work, recognising the opportunities for improved
partnership working in the re-settlement of young offenders.
— A wide range of bespoke schemes are also
run to work directly with Services such as local Youth Offending
Teams (YOT), Local Education and Health departments. These programmes
work to tackle priorities involving, Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime
(Offending and Re-Offending), Respect and Health—including
issues around drugs, alcohol and obesity. These schemes are typically
used to target areas of developing social tension, especially
where the Service encounters attacks on fire appliances and firefighters.
4.5 Older people and vulnerable groups—Recognising
the diversity of our communities and the complexity of both engaging
and working with vulnerable groups. Fire and Rescue has established
a full and innovative programme of advocacy and volunteer services.
4.6 Across the North West, Fire and Rescue
provides more than 250 Professional Advocates, Community Safety
Practitioners and volunteers. These posts work with front line
firefighters ensuring Fire and Rescue is able to adequately deliver
its obligation in meeting the needs of our most vulnerable communities.
Specialising within a dedicated area of engagement and delivery
also ensures that Fire and Rescue can best utilise its networking
capacity to share vital information and signpost risk between
all key Local Authority Service Providers, together with Private
and Voluntary delivery agencies. The following are just an example
of the extensive range of advocacy provided in the North West.
— Older people advocates.
— Young People advocates.
— Migrant and Bi-lingual advocates, including
Polish, Somali, Chinese, Bangladeshi and Arabic speaking .
4.7 Many of the North West Fire and Rescue
Services now have an extensive volunteer programme offering a
range of roles in areas such as:
— Youth engagement and fire cadet leader/instructor
positions.
— Safety team activities—assisting
with the delivery of Home Safety Programmes.
— Road Safety activities—assisting
with delivery of road safety programmes and campaigns.
— Support Services—volunteer programmes
designed to assist the wide range of support services that drive,
support and maintain our front line activities.
4.8 The programmes offer an opportunity
and challenge for volunteers to use their existing skills and
experiences as well as gain new ones, working and integrating
with a professional service engaged in the delivery of meaningful
services to local people and their communities.
4.9 Fire protection[56]—Recent
legislation came into force in 2005 and is designed to facilitate
better fire safety management in commercial premises. Across the
North West, Fire and Rescue is pro-actively working with commercial
premises to facilitate the effective management of risk as identified
through fire risk assessments. Employers, owners and occupiers
may face an increased risk of arson when assessed against the
factors associated with an economic recession. Fire and Rescue
is working to ensure this risk is factored into the business decision
making process. Helping to reduce the risk of arson with local
businesses is a priority for Fire protection delivery across the
North West. Our specialist fire protection teams work to support
local business in making appropriate decisions, designed to protect
their premises, livelihoods as well as life from any increased
risk from arson.
4.10 Fire and Rescue in the North West actively
supports and contributes towards the national and regional Arson
prevention/control forum framework. Nationally the forum was introduced
in 2001 aimed at encouraging a partnership response to arson
reduction through the framework provided by the Crime and Disorder
Act. The forum provides a network for Fire and Rescue to work
closely with Local Authorities, Police and the private Business
and Insurance sectors to reduce the incidents of arson and their
consequences.
4.11 Government Office Liaison—The
North West Fire and Rescue Management Board in collaboration with
each of the North West Fire and Rescue Authorities, sponsor a
secondment to the Regional North West Government Office.
4.12 Primarily the role works to engage
and liaise with Regional, Sub-Regional, Local and Central Government
bodies, across all areas of Policy, Delivery and Performance.
Representing the Five Fire Authorities, a key feature of the work
is to raise the Fire and Rescue profile at a strategic level,
whilst ensuring Fire and Rescue planning and delivery is aligned
to, and cohesive with the wider regional delivery network. The
post also works closely with the North West Fire and Rescue Project
Office and team and its role in building and delivering all North
West collaborative work streams.
4.13 NWIEP (North West Improvement and
Efficiency Partnership)[57]—NWIEP
works with local authorities to deliver the three-year strategy
that has been developed in consultation with all councils from
the region and their improvement and efficiency partners.
4.14 The strategy focuses on the priority
outcomes from the North West's Local Area Agreements, on the transformation
agenda and on providing support for the enablers of improvement.
It will mainly be delivered through the five sub-regional partnerships
in the region.
4.15 Fire and Rescue in the North West successfully
bid for and secured £450k (£150k per annum) funding
from the partnership to deliver the following programmes over
the next three years:
4.16 Community Leadership: This
programme will enhance community leadership capability to meet
the challenges set by the National Framework 2008-11. The move
to a transformational leadership agenda underpins the programme,
and this links with the new leadership model and framework for
the Fire and Rescue Service, the Aspire model. The course will
focus on developing the appropriate range of skills and competencies
for leaders in community and partnership settings.
4.17 Value for Money: This programme
aims to deliver increased efficiencies through developing innovative
solutions and cooperation in sharing best working practices.
4.18 Environmental Sustainability:
This programme will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience
in relation to environmental management and sustainability issues
and working together to reduce the impact that the North West
Fire and Rescue activities have on the environment.
4.19 Innovation: This programme
will develop key networking processes and support innovation through
all other regional networks (eg Fire Safety and Organisational
Development). The programme will also support improvement and
efficiency through all five fire authorities.
5. RECOMMENDATIONS
FOR ACTION
5.1 That the Regional Select Committee notes
the possible impacts of fire and its relationship to the wider
social and economic trends associated with the current financial
recession and downturn and;
5.2 The contribution Fire and Rescue can
give in supporting the broader regional network in its work to
mitigate and safely reduce the impacts faced by our region and
its communities.
52 Sadiq Khan MP Arson Control Forum speech 29 April
2009. Back
53
DCLG Fire Statistics Monitor Quarter 2: 1 July 2007 to 30 June
2008. Back
54
DCLG Fire-The economic cost of fire report 2004. Back
55
DCLG Fire Statistics Monitor Quarter 2: 1 July 2007 to 30 June
2008. Back
56
The Regulatory Reform (Fire safety) Order 2005. Back
57
North West Improvement and Efficiency Partnership strategy and
business plan 2008-11. Back
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