(L to R) Hampshire Chief Officer Dave Curry, Cllr Royston Smith, Chairman of the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Cllr Phil Jordan, executive member for public protection and PFI for Isle of Wight Council, Steve Apter, current Chief Officer of the Isle of Wight.
Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority (HFRA) and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service have agreed a partnership, which will now see Hampshire providing strategic leadership to the Isle of Wight. Hampshire’s authority members unanimously passed the agreement on 20 February, having previously been endorsed by councillors on the island.
Both services will continue to retain their own political independence and corporate identity, but both will enjoy significant financial and operational benefits from the partnership.
The partnership will formally begin on 1 April. Hampshire’s Chief Officer Dave Curry will take over leadership of the Isle of Wight, while the island’s three senior officers will be transferred to Hampshire’s team, with the area and group manager maintaining a physical presence on the Island.
