By Mark Smulian | 8 August 2014
Emergency services and local authorities have formed a group to ensure closer collaboration in their work and integration between services.
The Emergency Services Collaboration Working Group includes representatives from the Association of Chief Police Officers, the Chief Fire Officers Association, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, the College of Policing and the Local Government Association.
Some £162,000 to finance the group’s work has been jointly contributed by the Home Office, the Department of Communities and Local Government and the Department of Health.
Announcing the funding, a government spokesman said collaboration can deliver more effective emergency services and better value for money.
‘We have already provided significant funding to support emergency services collaboration projects in 2013/14,’ he said. ‘In addition, we have just announced £7.7m of support for locally-led schemes from the Home Office’s Police Innovation Fund for 2014/15.
‘Bids are also being considered for £75m of Department of Communities and Local Government funding, available in 2015/16, for fire authorities to drive transformation, including through "blue light" collaboration.’
Following the announcement, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hertfordshire David Lloyd welcomed the establishment of the working group on behalf of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners.
‘The establishment of a national Emergency Services Collaboration Group ensures a coordinated and truly collaborative approach is taken which not only makes financial sense but will help deliver better and more efficient emergency service provision,’ he added.