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Three fire and rescue services are all now using the same breathing apparatus and associated equipment following a three-year £1.7m collaborative programme. And a coroner has ruled that “significant failings” in sharing intelligence contributed to the deaths of three people in a Reading park terror attack in 2020.
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Collaborative project delivers stronger fire service alignment
Firefighters in Oxfordshire, Berkshire and Buckinghamshire are all now using the same breathing apparatus and associated equipment when responding to emergency incidents, tackling fires or entering hazardous environments.
Alignment between the three Thames Valley fire and rescue services is stronger following a three year £1.7m collaborative programme, investing in the latest breathing equipment. More via Emergency Services Times
Ambulance service bosses say they’re ‘at the bottom of the pack’ in funding row
The heads of the North East Ambulance Service are pressing for a more equitable financial plan, stating that they’re in a ‘challenging position’ and are currently languishing “at the bottom of the pack” in terms of funding.
At a recent board meeting, the recurrent grievance about a lack of capital funding was raised. Although it was acknowledged that the financial targets for the recently concluded fiscal year had been met, there was candid admission of a substantial risk that this wouldn’t be the case going forward. More via Teesside Live
Football Spectators Order 2024 comes into force
The Football Spectators Order 2024 comes into force ahead of the UEFA European Championship this summer.
The football spectators order establishes the control period for the 2024 UEFA European Championship in Germany under the Football Spectators Act 1989. More via College of Policing
Firefighters win 4% pay offer and advances on maternity following talks
Firefighters and fire control staff have been offered a package of pay improvements, including an above-inflation pay rise, improvements to maternity pay, and a large increase to the retainer paid to on-call firefighters.
Pay negotiations have been underway at the National Joint Council (NJC) between the Fire Brigades Union and fire employers for some months. More via Fire Brigades Union
Deaths of Reading terror attack victims ‘probably avoidable’, inquest finds
The deaths of the Reading terror attack victims were “probably avoidable” and contributed to by the “failings of multiple agencies”, an inquest has found.
Friends James Furlong, 36, Joseph Ritchie-Bennett, 39, and David Wails, 49, were stabbed to death by Khairi Saadallah, now 29, in Forbury Gardens on 20 June 2020. Saadallah was handed a whole-life sentence at the Old Bailey in January 2021 after pleading guilty to the three murders and three attempted murders. More via Sky News
Access to mining data will help emergency response, says Coal Authority
Releasing its new data and information plan earlier this week, the Coal Authority confirmed that it will now provide access to its data free of charge to public authorities to support projects and activities funded by the taxpayer.
The Coal Authority’s authoritative data includes underground mine workings that sit beneath approximately 25 per cent of properties in Great Britain. More via Emergency Services Times