Concern over cut in fire service staff numbers

A cut in the number of fire service posts is putting firefighters and the community at risk, a union has told BBC Politics East.

The Fire Brigades Union's (FBU) analysis of government data has found that across the East of England the number of fire service staff has dropped by 21% between 2010 and 2024.

Northamptonshire Fire Service has seen a 29% drop in numbers.

Danielle Stone, the Northamptonshire Fire, Police and Crime Commissioner said investment had been cut in the fire service in the county while its population had risen by 12.5%.

The government said Northamptonshire Fire Service was receiving "£32.3m in this financial year to protect its communities, an increase of 4.2%".

The FBU analysis found that between 2010 and 2024 about 1,250 fire service jobs were cut across Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Northamptonshire and Suffolk.

Buckinghamshire saw a 41% drop, while Suffolk saw numbers cut by 24% .

The FBU said that is about one in five jobs in the East.

But at the same time BBC analysis has found there has been a 9% drop in the number of incidents firefighters are called to.

Daventry firefighter and Fire Brigades Union representative Philip Davies said: "There's not enough funding in the fire service.

"In Northamptonshire, we've been asking for significant increases over the last few years.

"By reducing staffing levels and safety systems, it puts firefighters at risk and the community at risk."

But he said he would encourage people to join the fire service.

"Joining the fire and rescue service is the best thing you can do. It's terrifically rewarding," he said.

Stone said: "I think the fire service, like the police force, were massively dis-invested in during the austerity years.

"We have also had a 12.5% rise in population in Northamptonshire without having the additional funding to meet the needs of that additional figure."

Nikki Watson, Northamptonshire's chief fire officer, said: "The risks that are escalating are wild fires, but also road traffic collisions, we deal with a lot of road traffic collisions, and also, as we head into winter now, flooding.

"We experience a lot of flooding last year."

The Northamptonshire fire service has just launched its annual recruitment campaign.

A Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government spokesperson said: "Firefighters work tirelessly to keep people safe and they have our full support.

"Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Authority will receive £32.3m in this financial year to protect its communities, an increase of 4.2%.

"We'll continue to make sure it has the resources it needs."

BBC Politics East will be broadcast on Sunday 21 September at 10:00 GMT on BBC One in the East of England, and will be available after broadcast on BBC iPlayer.

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