James Duddridge Member of Parliament for Rochford and Southend East, welcomes the Minister of State for Policing and Fire Service announcement to approve Roger Hirst, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s request to take on the governance of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
The Minister of State for Policing and Fire Service, Nick Hurd MP has announced today that Essex will be the first area in the county to approve Roger Hirst, the Police and Crime Commissioner’s request to take on the governance of the Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
Currently the Essex Fire and Rescue Service has been responsible to the Essex Fire Authority, a group formed of elected members from the constituent councils. The Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst submitted his business case - to seek to take on responsibility for Essex Fire and Rescue service - earlier this year.
The move will mean that both Essex Fire and Rescue Service and Essex Police will have a directly accountable leader. Roger Hirst will become the first Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner from October 2017.
James said
“I welcome the news that the Home Secretary has approved The Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst’s business case to take on the responsibility for Essex Fire and Rescue Service. It is great to see Essex taking the lead in this field and bringing forward a proposal which has support from local authorities across the county. Having worked with Roger Hirst in his capacity as Police Crime Commissioner I am confident that he will be an asset to Essex Fire and Rescue Service and I’m really looking forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the county.”
Nick Hurd MP said
“It’s great to see Essex taking the lead in this field and bringing forward a proposal which has support from local authorities across the county and from many of the public.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst said
“The people of Essex deserve to have the best possible emergency services. By bringing together the governance of the Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we can support closer working and make investment decisions that will bring even bigger benefits in the future.”
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