Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service is facing a £1.6 million budget cut which will see more vital resources removed from the frontline.
Former Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin has confirmed that the service is pushing ahead with the cuts, despite the fire authority voting to delay the decision and opposition from firefighters, members of the public and councillors.
The service has already suffered stringent cuts, losing one in four firefighters since 2010. Recent inspections have revealed the impact that these cuts have had, with the service already struggling to meet its own emergency response standards.
These cuts are not just numbers on a spreadsheet - they are decisions that will cost lives.
Fire services all over the UK are facing the same fate. Unless the government steps in to plug the financial black hole, public safety will be jeopardised.
Will you join us in calling on the government to protect our community and invest in the fire and rescue service?
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- 28 firefighter posts were cut just last year. These cuts are not sustainable and the service is already stretched to breaking point.
- Every second counts in an emergency. Fewer firefighters and fewer engines mean longer response times and that means greater risk to life.
- It takes years of training and experience to become a firefighter. Once these skilled professionals are lost, they are not easily replaced. Rebuilding a strong fire service that can adequately protect the public could take years.
- Former Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin announced in early September that the cuts will go ahead, despite the fire authority voting to delay the decision on 29 August. The service currently holds £23.9 million in reserves – we are demanding that the service uses this money to cover the gap while pressuring the government for more funding.
