HMICFRS - Experts & Thought Leaders

The FIA CEO has responded to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that responsibility for fire safety will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. Ian Moore (CEO of the FIA) said that this decision (that many of us have known was coming for some time) is common sense and he is glad to see that the Government is finally listening (after many years) to feedback from the fire industry. WMS 8-Machinery of Government Organization: Prime Minister's Office Type: Written Ministerial Statement Date: 13 February 2025 Grenfell Phase 2 Inquiry report Statement made by Sir Keir Starmer, Prime Minister: "I am making this statement to bring to the House's attention the following Machinery of Government change." "On 4 September 2024 I announced that the Government would respond in full to the Grenfell Phase 2 Inquiry report within six months. In response to one of the recommendations from the report, I am confirming today that responsibility for fire will move from the Home Office to the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government." Management of the Airwave Service Contract "This change will bring responsibility for building safety and fire under a single Secretary of State, providing for a more coherent approach to keeping people safe from fire in their homes." "The Home Office will retain management of the Airwave Service Contract on behalf of the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and will remain responsible for the Emergency Services Mobile Communications Programme and His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)." This change will be effective from 1 April 2025. The Government will respond to the full report in due course.

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is performing well and has been congratulated for its performance, the fire inspectorate has said. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has graded Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across 11 areas and found the service was ‘good’ in ten areas and ‘adequate’ in one area. HMICFRS praises Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service HMICFRS said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is good at understanding the risk of fire HMICFRS said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is good at understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies, and that it considers a wide range of learning to support its ability to do so. This includes the Manchester Arena Inquiry report, with the service making improvements, such as the introduction of its new terrorist response capability. Inspectors also said they were encouraged by the service’s commitment to improve organizational culture, with staff at all levels showing behaviors that reflect the service’s well-defined values. His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services - Michelle Skeer, said: “I am pleased with the performance of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.” Service Implements new terrorist response capability Michelle Skeer adds, “The service has improved how it targets and evaluates its fire prevention work, and continues to provide an effective response to incidents. The service has also successfully implemented its new terrorist response capability, ensuring that all stations and fire engines are now equipped and ready to respond to terrorist attacks.” She continues, “Overall, I commend the service on the changes it has made and expect it to continue working to resolve the further areas for improvement we have identified.”

London Fire Brigade has made improvements and has therefore been removed from an enhanced level of monitoring by the fire inspectorate. His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) continuously monitors the performance of all fire and rescue services in England. The monitoring process consists of two stages: Scan and Engage. All fire and rescue services are in routine monitoring under the Scan stage by default, but may be escalated to enhanced monitoring under the Engage stage, if they are not effectively addressing the inspectorate’s concerns. Several improvements London Fire Brigade was moved into Engage in December 2022. His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services has decided to remove the London Fire Brigade from Engage, because it has made several improvements, including: Clear involvement of staff in developing values, with significant work to communicate values to staff; Most staff spoken to felt senior pioneers displayed brigade values; Clear commitment to improving leadership skills among managers through an ongoing program of leadership training; Clear progress in the brigade’s ongoing plan to improve its human resources function; Improved processes to deal with behaviors such as bullying and discrimination, including establishing a Professional Standards Unit; A comprehensive plan in place to improve the vetting of brigade staff; and Assurance in the sustainability of the brigade’s plans to change its culture. Enhanced level of monitoring His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services, Andy Cooke, said: “I am pleased with the progress that London Fire Brigade has made so far. While there is still more to do, I have decided to remove the brigade from our enhanced level of monitoring, known as Engage, and return it to routine monitoring." He adds, “I am reassured by the plans London Fire Brigade has in place to continue making improvements. The brigade will be inspected again this summer when we will assess its progress to make sure the people of London are getting the service they deserve from their fire and rescue service.”