news analysis - the "modernising" attack on fire services
WORKERS, SEPT 2005 ISSUE
Fire services across the country are under attack as government seeks to "modernise" them under the guise of dealing with terrorism. 46 local control rooms across England are being restructured into 9 regional centres, and both jobs and local knowledge will certainly be lost in the process. For example all 999 calls in the East Midlands will be handled from a business park near Castle Donington from 2008.
The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has estimated 600 to 900 jobs may eventually go across the country, as those currently manning the control rooms will not be able to travel to work in the regional centres. This will mean vital local knowledge will be lost. The consultancy fees alone for the new initiative have been estimated at £44 million and the overall costs appear to have soared from £734 million to £988 million — a rise of 31% — in just 7 months. There are also huge worries about the reliability of the new technology involved, given the government's abysmal record in implementing new computer systems.
The government has used the July terrorist attacks to boost the case for regional centres. After 9/11 it became apparent that the UK fire service was not equipped to deal with a full scale disaster. A new urban search and rescue (USAR) capability is being introduced through the New Dimension programme. Nineteen units will be established across the country with each unit containing specialist vehicles and equipment, including decontamination suits. However, although government has provided money for the new appliances, it has refused to give local authorities the money for extra personnel and training. There is an ongoing dispute in Somerset over insurance cover for firefighters who may be injured or killed when responding to a terrorist incident.
Engines lost from Central London
London FBU has also pointed out that 10 extra engines have been redeployed to the suburbs at the expense of 10 engines in Central London and the closure of Manchester Square Fire Station. There has been a net loss of two engines and a further loss of 180 firefighter posts from stations across London. Fire appliances have been removed from stations in the immediate vicinity of the explosions which occurred. The removal of two engines from Acton and Greenwich has impacted both on the locality and on the availability of engines to "backfill" those stations whose appliances are attending major incidents in Central London.
The FBU wants the planned cuts in London halted, and says that the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority should review the London Safety Plan in light of the issues highlighted by the events of 7 July.
Cuts are also affecting cities which could be targeted by terrorists. Last year Merseyside Fire Service refused a decontamination unit because it was cutting the number of firefighters. Birmingham has cut the number of available pumps from midnight until 8 am — if the evacuation of the city centre on the night of 9 July had been caused by a real attack this would have had serious consequences.
In Ipswich there has been industrial action over a proposed cut of 12 emergency response posts. The FBU's claim that this is "cuts driven" is backed by a report by the Audit Commission on Suffolk's fire service which confirms that the savings will help fund the national pay settlement. In addition the community fire safety budget has been slashed and there has been a 32% drop in fire prevention inspections.