Beyond Hackitt: protecting the vulnerable in the years ahead

We are coming to the end of a period of intense activity in the fire and rescue sector, but one common factor remains unchanged – our sector’s dedication to protecting the vulnerable, whether locally or nationally, from fire or from other danger.

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The first half of this publication looks at the work coming out of Dame Judith Hackitt’s review of building safety – both the practical work to deal with flammable cladding and other immediate concerns, in which the fire and rescue service has played an essential leading role, and the ongoing process of reform, which may see significant additional burdens placed on the sector and new partnership working under the proposed Joint Competent Authority.

The second half of the publication covers new developments in the wide range of activity the sector undertakes: Lancashire’s tackling of wildfires; the National Fire Chiefs Council’s (NFCC) response to the Kerslake report; developments in relation to water safety; the use of behavioural insights techniques; and the fire and rescue service’s role in protecting the vulnerable against scams. Finally we discuss the need to respond to inspection, setting out the inspectorate’s view of the challenge around inclusion and the emerging results of the LGA review of its peer support offer and promoting the Home Office’s work on supporting the recruits.