The Home Office has given the go-ahead for Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite, to take on responsibility for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority.
He will become the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire.
The decision follows a year long process which involved a public consultation and the production of a business case, submitted to the Home Office in October 2017 and independently assessed by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy last December.
Commenting on the announcement, Jason said: “Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service do a vital job saving lives both through their prevention work, tackling fires and their many other important roles.
"The change will focus on how the fire service is governed. I look forward to working with the Fire Authority to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities."
The role was forecast in Jason's 2016 election literature, when he said: "Giving the next PCC the responsibility for the Fire and Rescue Service in Cambridgeshire is a common sense move by the government – planned and co-ordinated properly, it will enable everyone from the police and fire organisations to work together."
Nick Hurd, the Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, said: “It’s great to see Police and Crime Commissioners identifying opportunities to drive greater collaboration between police and fire – there is a real opportunity to improve the services provided to local people. The proposals will encourage joint working, sharing of best practice and innovative thinking.
“Having a directly accountable leader overseeing both policing and fire will also help maximise available resources and drive transformation across both services.
"I look forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the local areas." Similar arrangements are in hand for Essex, Hereford and Worcester, Shropshire and Staffordshire.
The exact date for transfer of responsibilities has yet to be agreed.
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Jason Ablewhite
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Cambridgeshire
Hinchingbrooke Park
Huntingdon
PE29 6NP0300 333 3456
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