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20 | Reach Issue 5 2013

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oday’s fnancial pressures mean that all public sector organisations are expected to make cost and effciency savings while maintaining high levels of service delivery to the public. The Fire & Rescue Services (FRSs) in England are no exception to these requirements. Meanwhile, the Government has established the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme (ESMCP) to deliver the emergency

services critical communications provision once the current contracts with Airwave expire from 2016. The Government has made its position clear that the new service will not be delivered in the same manner as the current provision and will take advantage of available new technology. This inevitably raises the question about whether critical communications capabilities will be sacrifced in favour of a more cost effcient service. Incidents will

A new report from the Chief Fire Offcers’ Association (CFOA), identifes the challenges Fire & Rescue Services (FRSs) face ahead of meeting budgetary effciencies and the changing landscape of critical communications. We’re publishing the report in full as it raises issues that are relevant to all the emergency services.

still happen while cost effciencies are being delivered and while the debates continue.

Against this background, FRSs must continue to serve the public they protect; incidents will not wait for agreements to be signed. There is no clarity yet on what Britain’s blue light communications will look like post 2016 – but in the meantime emergency services must fully exploit the services available today to continue meeting the expectations

Fire and Rescue Services in England – Planning for an uncertain future