Encroachment of emergency service roles

Conference notes with some trepidation the recent encroachment of other emergency services and private industry on traditional Fire and Rescue Service roles, tasks and responsibilities throughout the UK.

Although this Conference recognises that these extra skills are often taken on by our emergency service comrades with the best intentions, Conference is also aware that this undermines the core work of UK Fire and Rescue Service’s and provides an opportunity for employers to undermine terms and conditions. Conference also notes that this diversification blurs the boundaries between each emergency service’s role and can undermine a service’s ability to carry out its own traditional role, putting the public and staff at risk by reducing the level of expertise in life threatening situations.

Conference therefore instructs the Executive Council to seek collaboration with the other unions and federations which represent emergency services, with the aim of stopping the encroachment of roles and responsibilities within Fire and Rescue Service’s and across the wider emergency service community. A report on progress should be delivered to Conference 2020.