BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Local councils are responsible for the safety of the public. They employ and work alongside many agencies and organisations to ensure that in the event of an emergency they are responsive and able to deal with the situation in a swift and safe manner. Emergency services do not exist as a service area in any local council. However councils do employ a range of people such as emergency planners, firefighters, health and safety and police civilian staff all of whom have a responsibility to ensure that the community remains a safe environment for all. Local gov’t employs 90,000 people in emergency services.

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Excellent link: http://www.lgcareers.com/what

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services UK local government employs 90,000 people in emergency services. The following career profiles show some of the jobs in emergency services: Fire Control Operator Neighbourhood Watch Controller Duties Planner Scenes of Crime Officer Firefighter Emergency Planning Officer

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Police numbers Interim police figures provided by forces, as of 31 January 2002, show police strength has risen to 128,748; the highest since records began and further evidence that ring-fenced money from the Crime Fighting Fund is helping to deliver more bobbies on the beat. Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "Increasing the number of bobbies on the beat is a key plank to our police reform agenda. Today's announcement of record numbers of police is superb news and we are well on track to meet our target of 130,000 police officers in England and Wales by Spring next year. "The increase of 4,578 officers in just under two years shows the success of our investment in the police service through the CrimeFighting Fund.”

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Reform is in the air…(what is the hidden agenda?) The key aspects of police reform are: Providing reassurance Tackling criminality Leadership Science and technology Human resources Making it happen.

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services What’s on the agenda ? tackling criminality through better detective methods, consistently applied, more training and more human and other specialised resources; reassuring the public though greater visibility and increased speed and quality of access; a new system for complaints against the police better leadership and training;

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services What’s on the agenda ? (continued..) optimising police use of science and technology; a better deal on occupational health modernising police regulations and all terms and conditions taking away 'easy' options for example if retirement options are abused  ensuring all staff have high quality terms and conditions

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Why reform? …The study, based on nearly 400 diaries plus in-depth interviews with almost 100 officers, found that officers were spending almost as much time in the police station as they were on the street. Of the 43.1% of time spent in the station, two-fifths of this (41%) is spent on paperwork. Only 17% of police officer time was spent on patrol and taking a prisoner into custody could take between two and eight hours. In one force there were 105 different forms in regular use.

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Digest of plans… http://www.policereform.gov.uk/whitepaper/index

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Lothian and Borders Police Budget 2000-2001~Employee Costs Police Officers 83,758,476 APT&C 19,310,893 Traffic Wardens 1,750,016 Manual Workers 1,175,666 Other Costs 42,137 Pensions 24,482,710 (i.e.23%) 130,524,898

BS1033 Local Government – Continuity and Change 9. Emergency Services Fire Services… http://www.hantsfire.gov.uk/