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Police Commissioner starts
work with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority
MERSEYSIDE Police Commissioner, Jane
Kennedy, has started her work with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority after
joining the board as a full voting member. Jane Kennedy attended her 1st
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority (MFRA) meeting after members of the
Authority unanimously approved the move, which aims to further cement ties
between the 2 blue light services. The Commissioner has already been working
closely with the Authority to boost existing collaboration initiatives between
Merseyside Police and MFRA, with the goal of looking for opportunities to share
resources and see where savings can be made while maintaining the unique
identities of the 2 services.
A Joint Police and Fire and Rescue Committee has already been established to
consider on going and potential future collaboration.
The committee, on which
the Police Commissioner and her Deputy, Cllr Emily Spurrell, both sit as
co-opted members, brings both organisations together to look at how they can
work in even closer partnership to further increase efficiency and
effectiveness.
As part of this, a small project team reviews current and
potential future collaboration.
Jane said:- "The Police and the Fire
Service are different organisations, with different needs, but, by joining the
Authority, I will be in a position to help identity priority areas where closer
working could lead to an enhanced service for the public or a better use of the
limited resources, both organisations receive. Merseyside Police and Merseyside
Fire and Rescue Services already work effectively together. We now share a
number of buildings across the region, with the Joint Command and Control Centre
in Bridle Road exemplifying how efficiencies and savings can be made when the 2
organisations collaborate. I am pleased to be working constructively with the
Chair of the Authority, Cllr Dave Hanratty, Authority members, and Chief Fire
Officer Dan Stephens and his Officers for the greater good for people across the
Merseyside Region."
The Commissioner's inaugural appearance at the Authority meeting comes ahead of
the 1st anniversary of the introduction of the Policing and Crime Act 2017,
which placed a duty on Police, Fire and Rescue and Emergency Ambulance Services
to collaborate.
Chair of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Authority, Cllr Dave Hanratty said:-
"We welcome the Commissioner to the Authority and look
forward to working together with all emergency services for the benefit of all
members of our community. Effective collaboration is 1 of the cornerstones of
our work and the addition of Jane's voice to the Authority can only serve to
further and enhance our joint efforts to protect people across Merseyside." |
