News Release

Leicestershire Fire And Rescue Service Is Performing Well

Issued: 11.02.09

At: 16:45pm

For Immediate Release

A recent report published by the Audit Commission – “Rising to the Challenge”, questions whether fire and rescue services are efficient. It concludes that there is potential to realise further savings but Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service challenges some of the findings based upon its own performance during the last four years.

The key findings of the report, as they apply to Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, are:

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is a high performing fire and rescue service and running costs are very low. In terms of the cost per head of population it serves, it is the third cheapest fire and rescue service in England. In addition to this, it has managed to reduce costs as they apply to the amount of funding per person in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland by 9.1% during the period 2006 and 2008
Over the same period, even though Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service is not as well funded as the vast majority of other fire and rescue services, it has achieved high levels of efficiency savings and performance levels are in the top half of all fire and rescue services nationally. At the same time, the Service has increased investment in community safety activities and this has enabled it to achieve overall reductions in the number of fires and other emergencies attended.
Community education programmes have been very successful and have directly led to a decrease in the number of people who are killed or seriously injured in fires or other emergencies such as road traffic collisions.
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service’s frontline staff are supported and managed well and the cost of this support is amongst the lowest in the country.

In 2005, following Comprehensive Performance Assessment, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service was rated as one of the best in the country and achieved a Good rating. Since 2005, this position has been maintained and improved upon and subsequent assessments support this.

Dave Webb, Chief Fire and Rescue Officer, states:

‘Although we challenge some of the findings of the recent Audit Commission report, we recognise the need to continue to improve our Service and achieve efficiencies whenever and wherever possible. We have a fantastic track record for good performance and all fire and rescue service are focused on delivering the best possible services to all communities in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.’

- ENDS -

Notes to News Desk

A copy of the full report is available on the Audit Commission website.
To visit this website, click here

Contact Information

For more information please contact:

Corporate Communications
Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service
Tel 0116 287 2241