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Does the PCC know that Wiltshire and Dorset fire services are merging?
The Home Office recently announced a proposal to allow Police and Crime Commissioners to take responsibility for local fire and rescue service.
Angus Macpherson, Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for Wiltshire and Swindon, has made a public statement on the matter.
“In addition to our existing arrangements with both Wiltshire Council and Swindon Borough Council and collaborations with other regional police forces, the fire and rescue service could provide an additional element to help improve the way we all serve our local communities, protect the public and ensure value for money.
“PCCs taking responsibility for their local fire service would allow improved direct accountability to the public in the same way as now exists within the police, through a single elected official rather than an authority structure.
“I believe this is an exciting opportunity to deliver efficiencies across emergency services. There is a lot of scope to look at how we reduce the cost of public services. Working closer together is always something we should consider.
“We have had some experience of collaborative working in Wiltshire in recent years, and I would like us to continue to build on work around sharing estate and working closer together to maximise the potential to keep people safe.
“Collaboration may take many different forms and I need to consider all the options and find out what will work best for us, our partners in Wiltshire and Swindon, and across the region.
“At this time I will not rule out the possibility of taking on the responsibility for local fire services in Wiltshire, but clearly there are lots of further discussions to take place to make sure I do what is best for Wiltshire and Swindon.”
The comment about accountability is quite ironic bearing in mind how few people bothered to vote for the PCC in the first place!