In December 2018, inspectors from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Service (HMICFRS) assessed Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service in three areas – efficiency, effectiveness and people.
As part of the assessment they looked into all areas of fire and rescue service work carried out by firefighters and staff at all levels.
Today (Thursday 20 June), HMICFRS published the report with their findings.
The report has graded Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service in the three areas, and the judgement in these is reported as ‘Requires Improvement’.
The Service welcomes the report and recognises that, even though it is graded ‘Requires Improvement’ overall, the service is ‘Good’ in the following areas:
Understanding the risk of fire and other emergenciesPreventing fires and other risksResponding to national risksMaking the fire and rescue service affordable now and in the future
The report also positively identified that the Service:
Has a good understanding of safeguarding responsibilitiesIs the National lead for Virtual RealityPrioritises high risk premises for inspections and takes effective action against those that do not comply with fire safety regulationsIs engaged with mental health training for staff to help recognise those with difficulties supports its staff with good equipment and personal protective clothing.
The Service is now in the process of reviewing the report and is looking at how they can address the findings of HMICFRS in the best way, in order to enable them to continue to give the most effective and efficient service to the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.
Rick Taylor, Chief Fire Officer at Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “I welcome this report which highlights good practice and identifies areas for us to focus on in order for us to improve as a Service.
“We deliver a cost effective, efficient service to the people of Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, and this has been tested to good effect by a number of very serious and tragic incidents including the Hinckley Road explosion and the LCFC helicopter crash.
“We now look forward to addressing the areas requiring improvement over the coming months and I know our staff will continue to work hard to deliver the service’s purpose of ‘Safer people, Safer places’ within Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.”
You can view the report in full by visiting
leics-fire.gov.uk/HMICFRS