Inspectors have praised Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service (HIWFRS) for the way it responds to fires and major incidents.
His Majesty’s Inspectorate for Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said HIWFRS was good at understanding fires and other risks and had responded ‘positively’ to lessons learned following the Grenfell Tower fire tragedy.
In its first full inspection since Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service officially combined in April 2021, the service was rated as ‘good’ for how effective it is at keeping people safe and secure.
The service was rated as ‘requires improvement’ in the efficiency and people categories.
The inspectorate found:
- HIWFRS is good at preventing fires and other risks
- The service is good at responding to fires and other emergencies, including major and multi-agency incidents
- Financial planning for the service’s future affordability is good
- HIWFRS is good at getting the right people with the right skills and has made progress in embedding its values and culture
- But the service requires improvement in making best use of its resources and has faced challenges with the availability of its on-call firefighters
- More work needs to be done in ensuring fairness and promoting diversity
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin, said:
“This is our first full inspection report since we combined to become Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service and I’m proud of the hard work and dedication our colleagues have shown in bringing our two services together.
“I’m pleased to see that the inspectors have recognised the progress we’ve already made in improving our culture and values. But we’re not complacent and remain committed to making sure we are an inclusive and welcoming employer for everyone.
“We know that the availability of our on-call firefighters continues to be a challenge, particularly during weekdays, and we are looking at ways to improve that.
“This report recognises that our response to incidents in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight is good, that we work well with our partners, and understand how we can help people to stay safe by preventing fires and reducing risks.
“The inspectors have taken a thorough look at our service and probed into every corner of our work.
“We’re already tackling many of the report’s recommendations and will continue to push ourselves to be the best possible fire and rescue service for the communities we serve.”
Chairman of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority (HIWFRA), Councillor Rhydian Vaughan, said:
“I want to recognise the considerable work that has been done in bringing together Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and following the combination in April 2021.
“There have been challenges, but this report shows there are many good things to celebrate, including the invaluable work the service does with young people.
“People can be reassured that the service is good at responding to fires and other emergencies and that progress has been made in improving the culture.
“The fire authority will now continue to play our part in making sure the service addresses those areas that have been highlighted for improvement.”
To read the full report go to: inspection report