A very political fix

摘要

Proposals to put police and crime commissioners in charge of our fire and rescue services are nothing more than a convenient political fix that deserve more sophisticated public scrutiny than the government is currently countenancing. Snuck out at the height of Corbynmania, the proposals are like a budget speech that dazzles on the day only to unravel as reality rears its inconvenient head. The consultation process is flawed and the benefits illusory, oversold and will dissolve in the mists of time. Fire and rescue services enjoy some of the highest levels of public trust and satisfaction in the UK and around the world. They are well earned, but like many of our public services, after five years of contempt from the coalition government, the Service needs to improve its public assurance, value for money and performance management system, yet these are mere side issues to the current political power grab.