Agenda item

The Assistant Chief Fire Officer presented the report.

It was noted that the Blue Light Collaboration programme was embedded into both Lancashire Constabulary and Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) corporate programme and a number of work streams remained open and are operating within the scope phase.

During the last quarter North West Ambulance Service had identified a single point of contact to operate in the project lead role and the officer for each of the three blue light services have attended a planning meeting.

Since the last Planning Committee meeting developments within business as usual activities have concluded collaborative benefits with regards to specialist protective clothing for LFRS National Incident Liaison Officers, a shared Business Continuity Plan for bulk fuel stocks and a memorandum of understanding has been drafted with regards to shared utilisation of the four drones held across LFRS (2) and Lancashire Constabulary (2).

There were a number of long-term projects that remained in scope phase and this report provided an update with regards to the fire crime scene investigation accreditation, public order training and real time demand management.

Fire crime scene investigation accreditation

A number of meetings had been held between Lancashire Constabulary and LFRS in relation to the ongoing Fire Investigation International Standards Organisation (ISO) process; these meetings had formed the basis of an agreement including a Project Initiation Document and Terms of Reference. Joint project leads continued to work closely in order to identify the national developments of the new Fire Investigation standards in order to embed best practice for arson fire management within the county.  Lancashire Police Quality Manager and an LFRS Incident Intelligence Officer attended a recent NFCC National Fire Investigation Accreditation update, some of the outcomes included:

The Forensic Science Regulator had agreed to put back the implementation date of the ISO until October 2021.

A small-scale forensic company had agreed to carry out a ‘dry run’ assessment with Fire and Rescue Services in order to see what the real issues were with the process. This took place in late 2019 and they would publish the results shortly which would inform next steps.

The emerging national position was identifying that many fire and rescue services were shaping draft agreements with their respective police force in order to discharge their fire investigation duties under a Section 22a collaborative arrangement.  LFRS and Lancashire Constabulary were awaiting further clarity from the National Fire Chiefs Council and National Police Chiefs Council leads before determination could be made on next steps.  Further clarity was anticipated at the next stakeholder meeting programmed for May 2020.

Real Time Demand Management

The collaborative ambition sought to establish whether there were opportunities to route specific aspects of ‘Real Time Demand’ from Lancashire Constabulary’s Contact Management Centre to LFRS’ North West Fire Control (NWFC). This would see LFRS as the primary responders to such incident types, wherein there had been a variable response to date, based upon the information passed by the caller into the 999 control room.

In practical terms this would determine the most appropriate resource to mobilise within the already established pre-determined attendance in line with a specific call-set requirement. Automated routing of such incident types through to North West Fire Control, would accompany this as a longer-term ambition, which was currently on hold due to a phased reconfiguration of the Contact Management Centre at Lancashire Constabulary HQ.

Detailed analysis had been undertaken of calls received, to determine those that were the appropriate type for a primary response via LFRS. Work was progressing to develop and design a process to select and transfer appropriate incidents to LFRS via NWFC. Examples of which included Persons Trapped or injured; where a Fire and Rescue Service primary response, would provide assistance at an earlier point with higher levels of equipment and personnel. 

Nominated leads from each organisation were currently considering the next steps, in order that a trial may be considered in a defined geographic area of Lancashire.

Public Order Training Site

Lancashire Constabulary had commissioned a piece of work to review the delivery of their Public Order Training, this included aspects such as civil disorder, door entry and other operational expertise areas. The current training delivery utilised facilities at a number of sites and it was anticipated that there could be a more effective and efficient delivery model through site consolidation.

A number of possible sites were being evaluated and Lancashire Constabulary had requested that LFRS considered the potential for the Public Order Training to be delivered at LFRS training Centre, Euxton. In order to consider the potential for this collaboration there had been a number of work packages delivered, these included a scale and scope of the land requirements, evaluation of any training related benefits to LFRS, potential impacts to LFRS’ future site use including the possible relocation of LFRS’ headquarters to the Euxton site.

This evaluation work remained ongoing and recommendations from the project team would be considered by the collaboration board leads in the next quarter.

Members noted that the changes to ISO accreditation with regards to fire investigation may impact upon the methods of investigating, evidence capturing and subsequent reporting of arson events. Currently LFRS and Lancashire Constabulary worked collaboratively in a manner that led to some of the highest detection and conviction rates. Effective adjustment to the changing standards was required to ensure this effective delivery be maintained.

In addition, due to the change of legislation and expectations of the HMICFRS inspectorate arrangements, LFRS was required to provide greater clarity on the evidence captured as a part of ongoing and future collaboration opportunities.

RESOLVED: - That the report be noted and endorsed.