Shropshire star comment: Issues with police and fire merger
The takeover of Shropshire’s fire authority by the Police and Crime Commissioner was bound to be controversial.
Opposition to the plan was registered in strong terms during the consultation period, which centred around concerns that the move could be driven by cost, thereby jeopardising the quality of service in Shropshire.
Now that the plan has been approved by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, those issues are once more at the forefront.
Councillor Eric Carter has articulated the fears of many by highlighting problems that might arise by conjoining services.
Many will argue that the move is driven by the desire to “make efficiencies” rather than improve services and any claims of an upgrade will be taken with a pinch of salt by many.
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The fact is that as technology has advanced, and as budgets have been placed under increasing pressure, our emergency services have also changed and bear little resemblance to those that served the county at the turn of the millennium.
Back then, there were retained fire services in most of our towns, including smaller rural outposts.
There were both police and ambulance stations across the region too, rather than the small numbers that now exist.
And it is unarguable that such services made the public feel safer and also increased their chances of survival or avoiding serious illness or injury in times of crisis or emergency.
Standard of service
It seems highly unlikely that Amber Rudd will reverse the decision to merge and so we must instead focus on the future and protect the standard of service people in Shropshire receive.
Saving money is one thing and making a service more efficient is understandable at a time of funding pressure.
But this cannot be at the expense of safety.
That is the challenge that John Campion must now meet – and he must deliver on his promise to give the people of Shropshire a service that is just as effective as that which it replaces.
All will wish him well but he must be under no illusions that if mistakes are made the price that will be paid won’t be measured in pounds and pence, it will be measured in lives lost.
