Today, Monday 11 March 2024, Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Fire Authority approved Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s (TWFRS) Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2024-27.

Following a comprehensive eight-week consultation period, Fire Authority members reviewed the feedback received from elected officials, stakeholders, employees and the public and, following a robust questioning of the Chief Fire Officer, later approved the CRMP.

Developed using intelligence, insight and a comprehensive understanding of current and future risk, both in Tyne and Wear and nationally, the Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2024-27 is a comprehensive three-year plan which outlines how the service will continue to focus on community safety and identify and mitigate risks in the community by targeting resources effectively and efficiently.

Work will now commence to action the range of proposals within our CRMP, which includes increasing the number of fire cadet branches, launching a new inspection team to support the Building Safety Regulator, and further improving TWFRS operational training facilities, as well as an increased focus on prevention and productivity.

Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service are already sector-leading with their recent work on reducing contaminants faced by firefighters.

Councillor Phil Tye, Chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Authority, said:  “Today, the Fire Authority considered the CRMP and the 24 proposals within it. Having considered all the feedback, data and rationale put forward, we have agreed on the plan.

“The proposals offer a range of benefits across the whole of Tyne and Wear, and the consultation with the public and elected officials has been comprehensive and detailed. This includes a strengthening of the line rescue and water rescue provision as well as a continued enhancement of specialist rescue assets.

“The service is increasingly responding to people in crisis on bridges and rivers across the area and this proposals will enable the service to target resources more towards this in support of people in crisis. These enhanced resources are a real positive contribution towards public safety.

“This will allow the service to continue to best support the communities it serves”.

Peter Heath, Chief Fire Officer at Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “We are delighted that elected members of the Fire Authority have today agreed to our proposed CRMP, which will allow us to further invest in prevention, protection, response and overall resilience.

“The continued investment in our people is key to this proposal, and our employees do an amazing job on behalf of our communities.

“The CRMP is another step that allows Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service to go from strength to strength and deliver a service that is ‘Creating the Safest Community’.”