Fire at the heart of the community

摘要

The deal is done and dusted. The first reading of the Policing and Crime Bill 2015-16 has gone through Parliament. Note the first three chapters: Collaboration agreements; Police and crime commissioners: fire and rescue functions; and the London Fire Commissioner: transfer of property, rights and liabilities. So much for being squeezed out of the picture - Fire is up front and centre. Was the Westminster Hall debate, Emergency Services: Closer Working (see pg 9), the last throes of resistance against police and crime commissioner control? Perhaps not judging by the opposition from Conservative MP Richard Fuller - not the only local disagreement that will bubble away.