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Adam Bannister is a contributor to IFSEC Global, having been in the role of Editor from 2014 through to November 2019. Adam also had stints as a journalist at cybersecurity publication, The Daily Swig, and as Managing Editor at Dynamis Online Media Group.
November 13, 2014

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Fire Service Cuts Felt as Response Times Rise in Capital

fire engine smokeDespite the closure of some 10 fire stations last year and the loss of 550 firefighters’ jobs more London wards are achieving six-minute target response time for the first fire engine’s arrival.

But if that seems counter-intuitive then new data given to London Assembly members also revealed that the average response time for the city has increased from 5.18 to 5.30 minutes.

Last year 267 of London’s 624 wards failed to hit the target, a number which has fallen to 213 wards this year – a reduction of 54.

The six-minute target, however, is still being missed across a third of the capital. Meanwhile, the second engine now arrives on the scene after an average interval of 6.51 minutes, up from 6.28 minutes.

Fire Brigades Union London Regional Secretary Paul Embery described the latest data as “deeply troubling”.

“For someone trapped in a fire, every second counts, and any delay could be the difference between life and death,” he said.

“Public safety is being sacrificed on the altar of the Mayor’s crude economic ideology.”

London Assembly Labour Fire Spokesperson Fiona Twycross said: “The Mayor has an important duty to protect the public.

“He needs to ask himself whether closing ten fire stations and removing 27 fire engines is really the best way to achieve that.”

The Fire Service attempted to put a positive spin on the figures. Pointing out that some deterioration in performance was inevitable given the severity of cuts, a spokeswoman said the brigade had actually said the latest figures were better than expected.

A spokesperson for the Mayor of London said: “Londoners deserve the most efficient and effective fire service. Right across the capital the average time it takes for a fire engine to reach the scene is five and half minutes with a second arriving less than two minutes later.

“In over 270 wards the response times for first appliances have actually fallen, in some cases by up to a minute and in over half of those where there were increases it was less than 15 seconds.

“We are working hard to ensure that everyone in London gets the response they need from our fire service, in spite of the fact that 13 appliances are being held in reserve should threatened strike action go ahead, and will continue to look for new ways to improve the service.”

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