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Oversight of second emergency service will transfer to the politicians if approved by Home Office

Nine police and crime commissioners have been given a share of £1 million to help with their proposals to take over local fire services.

The money comes from the Home Office, which will also have the final say on whether the hoped-for takeovers can go ahead.

PCCs for Sussex, West Mercia, Essex, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire, Staffordshire and North Yorkshire have been granted a slice of the cash.

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service Brandon Lewis said: “PCCs taking on responsibility for fire and rescue services will lead to the same level of public accountability for both services.

“I am pleased to support those PCCs who are developing proposals to take on governance of local fire and rescue services.”

The Home Office says the money “will ensure that the work and knowledge gained is properly disseminated amongst the policing community”.

But not all of the PCCs who are being granted the cash are fully committed to taking on fire service governance.

Gloucestershire’s Martin Surl has previously told PoliceOracle.com that he has a “genuinely open mind” and wants to commission research on the issue.

Others such as Essex’s Roger Hirst and Hertfordshire’s David Lloyd have said they want to take over from fire authorities, and have already set out their plans to do so.

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