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A landmark partnership between Essex’s emergency services has saved £20m of public money, according to a new review of the Essex Emergency Services Collaboration Programme (ESCP).
Established in 2017, the ESCP brings together Essex Police, Essex County Fire and Rescue Service (ECFRS), the East of England Ambulance Service Trust, and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC). The review confirms the programme is on track to achieve £20m in efficiencies through joint initiatives, shared facilities, and coordinated response strategies.
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said the collaboration had become a model for effective public service.
“The Essex Emergency Services Collaboration Programme is a powerful example of how working together delivers real results for our communities,” he said. “From improving safety for women and girls through Project Minerva to streamlining frontline response with Tri-Service Officers, we are not only saving money – we are saving lives. I’m proud of the £20 million in efficiencies we’re on track to deliver, but even prouder of the safer, more resilient Essex we’re building together.”
Originally created to meet a statutory duty to collaborate, the ESCP has evolved into a strategic driver of innovation and integration across the county’s blue light services. The programme supports more than a dozen major projects, each designed to enhance operational effectiveness, community safety, and value for money.
Rick Hylton, Chief Fire Officer of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service, said the collaboration had delivered tangible improvements.
“The Collaboration Programme has enabled us to deliver real change in how we work together across services,” he said. “From prevention to response, we are seeing the benefits of shared knowledge, joint training, and integrated delivery. It’s making Essex safer, and it’s making our services stronger.”
BJ Harrington QPM, Chief Constable of Essex Police, also praised the partnership’s impact.
“Working effectively together isn’t just a statutory duty — it helps us prevent crime and keep people safe,” he said. “Crime is falling in Essex, but our officers and staff across the force, whether in Neighbourhood Policing Teams, response units or specialist teams, are never complacent. This work is delivering change and I support it.”
Among the initiatives credited with improving efficiency are Project Minerva, the introduction of Tri-Service rural prevention officers, an arson prevention programme, and Shared Estate Classrooms. The collaboration has also enabled greater use of joint facilities, with ambulance crews deploying from fire stations and police officers using ECFRS sites as operational bases.
These initiatives reflect a wider shift toward integrated emergency response — one that, according to the review, is not only saving money but also strengthening resilience and safety across Essex.
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