South Essex firefighters have branded a Government White Paper outlining sweeping changes in the fire service as out of touch and risky.
The blue print for the future of the service was outlined today by Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott, in the Our Fire and Rescue Service paper.
Shift patterns are set to change with the current, two days, two nights on and four off pattern changing to flexible shifts to cover times where there is perceived to be a greater risk.
New bodies will be created to negotiate pay rather than the present national system and 6,000 jobs are likely to go over six years.
More emphasis is to be placed on fire prevention and firecrews will play a key role in responding to terrorist threats and civil emergencies such as floods. The Fire Brigade will be renamed the Fire and Rescue Service.
Martyn Hodder, assistant divisional commander at Southend, said: "We have been called the Fire and Rescue Service for as long as I can remember. Essex fire service already does a lot of what Mr Prescott is recommending.
"Shifts are set to change under the Integrated Risk Management System. More people will be on duty at times when they say there is more risk.
"They say there are less fires at night so there will be less cover but in a densely populated area like Southend where we get called out to chip pan fires at all hours that is a risky thing to do."
Published Tuesday, July 1, 2003
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