Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service’s performance across eleven areas and found the service was ‘good’ in ten areas and ‘adequate’ in one area according to a report out this morning from Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS)
HMICFRS said Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is good at understanding the risk of fire and other emergencies, and that it considers a wide range of learning to support its ability to do so.
This includes the Manchester Arena Inquiry report, with the service making improvements, such as the introduction of its new terrorist response capability.
Inspectors also said they were encouraged by the service’s commitment to improve organisational culture, with staff at all levels showing behaviours that reflect the service’s well-defined values.
His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Michelle Skeer said:
“I am pleased with the performance of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.
“The service has improved how it targets and evaluates its fire prevention work and continues to provide an effective response to incidents. The service has also successfully implemented its new terrorist response capability, ensuring that all stations and fire engines are now equipped and ready to respond to terrorist attacks.
“Overall, I commend the service on the changes it has made and expect it to continue working to resolve the further areas for improvement we have identified.”
Based on the findings of the report, GMFRS is now the most improved fire and rescue service and one of the best performing in the country.
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:
“I am immensely proud to say that today, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service is one of the best performing fire and rescue services in the country.
“We know that the service of seven years ago has undergone fundamental change, and our Chief Fire Officer and his leadership team have relentlessly committed themselves to that mission. This report is a testament to their work, and to the tireless efforts of everyone within GMFRS to keep our city-region safe and deliver a modern, professional, inclusive service.
“Dave, his senior team, our firefighters and all of our support staff deserve every credit for the improvements they have driven. With their leadership, and the support and hard work of staff right across the service, GMFRS has turned a corner – and they will have our full backing as they continue on that path to even greater success.”
Chief Fire Officer Dave Russel said:
“Our service has been on a significant improvement journey since I joined in September 2020, and I am the first to admit that journey hasn’t always been easy. But we have always been open and honest about the challenges we have faced, and about our determination to tackle them head-on and change for the better.
“This was our service’s third inspection in five years and the inspectors have been rigorous and fair in carrying out their work. I am pleased to say that we have already acted on the recommendations within this report, and I am confident that further progress will be reflected in our next inspection.
“Whilst we are delighted with this report, we are by no means complacent, and we know that improvement is a continuous journey. We will never rest on our laurels as a service, or shy away from defending our culture and values as we continue on that journey to ‘outstanding’. But today is a day when everyone in GMFRS can be proud of how far we’ve come together.”
