Fire chiefs to challenge police takeover again

Hereford and Worcester fire and rescue bosses say they will challenge a police takeover move over the impact the West Mercia and Warwickshire police alliance breakdown will have on the bid’s business case.

West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion wants to merge and take over the governance of fire and rescue services in Herefordshire, Shropshire and Worcestershire.

He says the move could save the taxpayer £4m a year and would lead to service improvements by ensuring better collaboration between police and firefighters.

Former Home Secretary Amber Rudd approved the plans in March 2017 which would see oversight of the services transfer from two separate committees of councillors to the police and crime commissioner.

Hereford and Worcester fire authority along with their Shropshire colleagues applied for a judicial review into the process but this was dismissed today (July 29) by the High Court.

However, Hereford and Worcester chairman Roger Phillips said they would be challenging the Home Office’s view that Mr Campion’s decision to break the alliance between West Mercia and Warwickshire police force has no bearing on his business case for the fire service take over.

West Mercia Police entered in a strategic alliance with Warwickshire Police in 2013 and aimed to share resources and make savings of £30m by 2015.

But West Mercia decided to withdraw from the arrangement in October last year and bring the alliance to an end on October 8, 2019.

Coun Phillips said: “Shropshire and Hereford and Worcester fire and rescue authorities are issuing a second judicial review on the Home Office decision that the police and crime commissioner’s decision to break his alliance between West Mercia Police and Warwickshire has no impact on his business case for taking over the two fire authorities that cover the four main local authorities.”

He was disappointed with the High Court decision and said the fire authority had provided a strong argument to show that the police and crime commissioner’s business case would not improve the economy, effectiveness, or efficiency of the services.

“The Judge decided not to grant our application for judicial review even though he agreed with our argument that the Home Secretary had applied the wrong test when considering the police and crime commissioner’s business case.

“In light of this and having considered legal advice, we believe there are grounds to challenge the Court’s decision and will therefore be applying for leave to appeal.

“In the meantime, we will continue to work collaboratively with the PCC’s office and with our colleagues in West Mercia Police to deliver the best Fire and Rescue Service for communities in Herefordshire and Worcestershire.

“HWFRS will also continue to explore the Alliance with Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service to secure resilient and sustainable emergency response and rescue services for all our communities now and in the future.”

Mr Campion said taxpayers’ money was being wasted on an expensive legal process that has gone on long enough.

“The benefits of joint governance have been clearly and consistently acknowledged,” he said.

“It is a change that can deliver significant benefits to our communities and our police and fire services, by focusing resources on front line emergency service deliver.

“The significant cost the fire authorities have incurred and the delay orchestrated have done nothing to help our police and fire services, nor the communities of West Mercia.

“Two years on from when I published my business case, the potential improvements within it remain almost entirely untouched.

“I don’t believe that is what our communities want, need or expect.

“The money that the fire authorities are spending on expensive legal fees could be better spent on frontline firefighters and the resources they need to keep us safe.

“I hope the Government will now progress joint governance without delay that will focus on delivering the best possible services to our communities.”