Since October 2011, Suffolk has shared a control room with Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire and Rescue Service in Huntingdon. The joint project has worked well, saving both fire services money and enabling greater cross border resource sharing.
However, the company behind a project to deliver a new IT system, initiated in 2019, has run into technical and financial problems, causing a significant delay. This, in addition to advancements in technology, has led to the decision to bring fire control back into the county by the end of 2024.
Councillor Andrew Reid, Cabinet Member for Fire and Public Protection, said:
“We have enjoyed a successful partnership with Cambridgeshire and it served as a national example of how well sharing resources across counties could work.
“It is time, however, to bring fire control back into our county and under direct Suffolk leadership.
“We are committed to delivering the most effective and efficient services to our residents, and in this case it is essential that we strive to find and develop a solution which is robust, sustainable and works for Suffolk.”
A new, Suffolk-based control room, with its own market tried and tested fire engine mobilisation software, will mean modernised IT systems and improved public and firefighter safety in Suffolk.
Jon Lacey, Chief Fire Officer at Suffolk Fire and Rescue, said:
“Following detailed talks with Cambridgeshire the decision has been made to bring fire control back into Suffolk. This decision has not been taken lightly and will take time to implement, however, we are confident it is achievable and the right way forward.
“Clearly a lot of time has gone into our collaborative work to date, so I would like to thank the teams for doing everything they could to make this work.
“Communities in Suffolk will not be impacted by this decision. We remain committed to providing excellent prevention, protection, and response to our residents.”
The proposed new control centre will be brought to Suffolk County Council’s Cabinet for approval in September 2023.
