Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service’s Assistant Chief Officer Steve Apter will take up a new post as London Fire Brigade’s Interim Deputy Commissioner on 1 December. He will be working under Interim Commissioner Dany Cotton, London Fire Brigade’s first female chief.
As Director of Safety and Assurance, Steve will be taking on responsibilities for the capital, such as special operations, resilience and organisational development. The Isle of Wight (IOW) resident picked up his first hose as a retained firefighter for the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service 26 years ago. ACO Apter, whose brother John is Hampshire Police Federation Chairman, said, “I remember as kids John would dress up as a police officer but I had never considered the fire service. I only became a retained firefighter because my cousin was doing it and said I should try it. I immediately knew it was the job for me.”
After a year the Liverpool-born firefighter went full time, eventually leaving as a seasoned Chief Fire Officer to take on the position of ACO at the larger Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service after helping to establish a working partnership between the two services.
ACO Apter was also recently seconded to support the senior management team in East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service as their Deputy Chief Fire Officer for seven months.
As well as experience of being Head of Fire and Rescue, Road Safety and Emergency Management for the IOW council, he was also the Community Safety Partnership Chairman on the island. One of his most recent achievements was earlier this year when, as Chairman of the UK Rescue Organisation (UKRO), he hosted the annual rescue challenge. He has also been involved in travelling to developing countries to help train and raise the standards of their firefighters.
ACO Apter said, “I am extremely proud and excited to take on this role, and looking forward to working with Dany. It seems a poignant moment to start this new adventure as the brigade has just appointed its new commissioner and other changes are taking place in the service. It is also the year that marks 150 years of the LFB.
“London is a brigade like no other with the range of challenges and issues firefighters have to be prepared for. I believe my breadth of experience and the skills I have learnt on the Isle of Wight , Hampshire and further afield will enable me to bring a unique perspective to the role.”
