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Fire and rescue teams in Norfolk, Suffolk and Hertfordshire are improving response times and boosting the region’s resiliency with Motorola Solutions’ Guardian Hub.
The cloud-based command centre platform allows the three fire and rescue services, covering more than 100 stations and a population of over 2.5 million people, to jointly manage 999 calls, dispatch crews and track incidents in mutual aid scenarios.
The system is designed to support independent agency operations for daily response, while enabling efficient collaboration between agencies across the lifecycle of an incident.
“Emergencies aren’t restricted by borders, and our responses shouldn’t be either,” said Darren Cook, Assistant Chief Fire Officer at Hertfordshire FRS. “Working closely with Norfolk and Suffolk is already leading to more efficient and effective responses, and the chance to share knowledge on how we’re using this new technology has been incredibly valuable. Within hours of the hub going live, we saw the benefits, as Suffolk FRS operators took calls and managed dispatch for Hertfordshire FRS during a large structure fire incident.”
“During extreme weather events and major fires, it’s crucial that we can share call handling and frontline resources with neighbouring FRSs,” said Scott Norman, Deputy Chief Fire Officer at Norfolk FRS. “The system gives us visibility into our partners’ ongoing incidents to mobilise our own crews faster and respond more effectively. Ultimately, we can provide a better service for our community, when and where they need it.”
Bringing control room operations into a single shared hub means the three services can collaborate more closely during major incidents, reducing duplication and strengthening resilience across county lines. The platform also removes the need for each FRS to maintain separate IT systems, helping cut costs and easing pressure on call handlers during busy periods.
“Our work can often be a matter of life or death – we needed a system which would hit the ground running and enable entirely new ways of working with our neighbouring FRSs,” said Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer at Suffolk FRS. “Motorola Solutions fit the bill perfectly. The Hub model has already proven its value with call handlers able to manage extremely high call volumes and allowing each FRS to seamlessly provide additional support when needed. We’ve also found unexpected benefits, such as allowing all control room staff to take part in planned training exercises, without disrupting active operations.”
“Fire and rescue services are there for their communities, but the pressure they face continues to grow,” said David Shorland, UK and Ireland Sales Director, Motorola Solutions. “Guardian Hub gives services a better way to connect, coordinate and respond. With agencies increasingly required to do more with less, we’re providing a resilient, scalable model to help serve and protect communities.”
Motorola Solutions is a premier partner at The Emergency Tech Show 2026, taking place from 16-17 September at the NEC in Birmingham. You can find them on Stand B80. Register your interest in attending here.
