Public Consultation on Fire and Rescue Service and Police Collaboration

The Policing and Crime Bill that is currently progressing through Parliament will provide a legal duty for emergency services to collaborate. As such it also provides the opportunity for Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) to replace Fire Authorities and take responsibility for Fire and Rescue Services in their area. This has led the PCC for North Yorkshire to consider the potential of enhanced collaboration with North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Various options are available for North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service to align either with North Yorkshire Police, or to align with a neighbouring Fire and Rescue Service, such as Humberside. Both options are viable and represent a clear choice to the people of North Yorkshire. With a decision of such magnitude for the future safeguarding of the people who live in North Yorkshire it is deemed appropriate that a careful and complete consultation is undertaken.

At this earliest stage it is important to obtain an initial sounding from the people of North Yorkshire to assess where the current consensus in opinion lies, and to input into the scope for a more detailed and complete consultation process which may have to follow.