Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
Encyclopedia
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales, is responsible for the inspection
and auditing of all Local Authority Fire Service
s in England and Wales to ensure they meet strict performance criteria and targets laid out by the Government .
The Chief Inspector is part of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate which reports to the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
The current Chief Inspector is the former Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, Sir Ken Knight
. The role of Chief Inspector also includes additional responsibilities to HM Government. The Chief Inspector is the most senior Fire and Rescue Service adviser to the Government, advising on policy, procedures, and legislative changes affecting the UK Fire Service.
Although this additional responsiblity only officially extends to England and Wales, the post is deemed to cover to all parts of the UK in shaping policy changes relating to the UK Fire & Rescue Service inlight of major incidents and outcomes from any investigations resulting from the work of the Fire & Rescue Service.
The Inspectorate reports on the activities of the Public Fire and Rescue Services of England and Wales as well as the Defence Fire and Rescue Service
(which operated by the Minsitry of Defence) on a voluntary basis.
The HMFSI's equivalent in Scotland is Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland
For a short period of time the title of HMCI was renamed as Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
however the title was unpopular and was reverted back.
issues and creating the role of Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser (CFRA) confirming in May the same year that Sir Ken Knight
had been appointed to the position. In October 2007, Sir Ken left the London Fire Brigade
to start his new role. The announcement was made by the then fire minister Angela Smith
. The purpose of the new unit and its adviser is to "provide ministers and civil servants with independent professional advice on fire and rescue issues". The Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser will also retain the historic title of HM Chief Inspector which was traditionally given to the head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Service. The new unit and its chief advisor will replace HMFSI, its function will be to advise ministers, COBR
and other government departments; and local government. The Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser or CFRA will report to the Department for Communities and Local Government
. The new units remit will only extend to England and Wales, in Scotland, the role of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate
will continue in its existing form under Chief Inspector of Fire Services Brian Fraser.
The detailed job description was made available to the public ahead of Sir Ken's appointment. It said the role of CFRA comes with a "substantial six figure package". The CFRA will have to set up the new unit, the last HM Chief inspector of Fire Services was Sir Graham Meldrum who retired in January 2007. The new post of CFRA has been created to reflect changes to the fire and rescue service in the UK brought about by the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
, although it only applies to England and Wales. However, it is anticipated that the CFRA will advise the government on any major incident in the UK.
Inspection
An inspection is, most generally, an organized examination or formal evaluation exercise. In engineering activities inspection involves the measurements, tests, and gauges applied to certain characteristics in regard to an object or activity...
and auditing of all Local Authority Fire Service
Local Authority Fire Service
In the United Kingdom the terms Local Authority Fire and Rescue Service, County Fire & Rescue Service or Public Fire and Rescue Service refer to a fire and rescue service provided and operated by a county or metropolitan council to serve the public in an emergency...
s in England and Wales to ensure they meet strict performance criteria and targets laid out by the Government .
The Chief Inspector is part of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate which reports to the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
The current Chief Inspector is the former Commissioner of the London Fire Brigade, Sir Ken Knight
Ken Knight
Sir Ken Knight, CBE, QFSM, DL, MIFireE is the current HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services and Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser in England & Wales.The position of "Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser" is a new government role created in 2007....
. The role of Chief Inspector also includes additional responsibilities to HM Government. The Chief Inspector is the most senior Fire and Rescue Service adviser to the Government, advising on policy, procedures, and legislative changes affecting the UK Fire Service.
Although this additional responsiblity only officially extends to England and Wales, the post is deemed to cover to all parts of the UK in shaping policy changes relating to the UK Fire & Rescue Service inlight of major incidents and outcomes from any investigations resulting from the work of the Fire & Rescue Service.
The Inspectorate reports on the activities of the Public Fire and Rescue Services of England and Wales as well as the Defence Fire and Rescue Service
Defence Fire and Rescue Service
The Defence Fire and Rescue Service is the primary firefighting and rescue service protecting British defence estates and property. Along with the Royal Air Force Rescue and Firefighting Service it forms the Ministry of Defence Fire Services.-History:...
(which operated by the Minsitry of Defence) on a voluntary basis.
The HMFSI's equivalent in Scotland is Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland
Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland
Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland or HM Fire Service Inspectorate is an autonomous agency of the Scottish Government - based in St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, its function is to: "improve the efficiency, effectiveness and standards of the fire and rescue services in Scotland", it...
For a short period of time the title of HMCI was renamed as Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser
Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Fire Services for England and Wales, is responsible for the inspection and auditing of all Local Authority Fire Services in England and Wales to ensure they meet strict performance criteria and targets laid out by the Government ....
however the title was unpopular and was reverted back.
Background
In February 2007, the government in the UK announced it was setting up a new unit to advise ministers on fire and rescueFire service in the United Kingdom
The fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
issues and creating the role of Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser (CFRA) confirming in May the same year that Sir Ken Knight
Ken Knight
Sir Ken Knight, CBE, QFSM, DL, MIFireE is the current HM Chief Inspector of Fire Services and Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser in England & Wales.The position of "Chief Fire & Rescue Adviser" is a new government role created in 2007....
had been appointed to the position. In October 2007, Sir Ken left the London Fire Brigade
London Fire Brigade
The London Fire Brigade is the statutory fire and rescue service for London.Founded in 1865, it is the largest of the fire services in the United Kingdom and the fourth-largest in the world with nearly 7,000 staff, including 5,800 operational firefighters based in 112 fire...
to start his new role. The announcement was made by the then fire minister Angela Smith
Angela Evans Smith
Angela Evans Smith, Baroness Smith of Basildon is a British Labour Co-operative politician who was the Member of Parliament for Basildon from 1997 till she was defeated in 2010...
. The purpose of the new unit and its adviser is to "provide ministers and civil servants with independent professional advice on fire and rescue issues". The Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser will also retain the historic title of HM Chief Inspector which was traditionally given to the head of Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Fire Service. The new unit and its chief advisor will replace HMFSI, its function will be to advise ministers, COBR
Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms
Cabinet Office Briefing Room is a term used to describe the formation of a crisis response committee, coordinating the actions of bodies within the government of the United Kingdom in response to instances of national or regional crisis, or during events abroad with major implications for the UK...
and other government departments; and local government. The Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser or CFRA will report to the Department for Communities and Local Government
Department for Communities and Local Government
The Department for Communities and Local Government is the UK Government department for communities and local government in England. It was established in May 2006 and is the successor to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, established in 2001...
. The new units remit will only extend to England and Wales, in Scotland, the role of Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate
Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland
Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland or HM Fire Service Inspectorate is an autonomous agency of the Scottish Government - based in St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, its function is to: "improve the efficiency, effectiveness and standards of the fire and rescue services in Scotland", it...
will continue in its existing form under Chief Inspector of Fire Services Brian Fraser.
The role of the CFRA
The DfCLG has outlined the general functions of the CFRA, and the new unit:- Advise ministers and senior staff on structure, organisation and performance, including equality, of fire and rescue services
- It will identify and disseminate good practice to fire and rescue services
- Continue the successful drive to reduce fire deaths, which have been halved in England over the last quarter of a century
- It will also advise and liaise with government, local authorities, professional bodies and other interested organisations on fire, rescue and resilience matters
- Is the umbrella organisation of the Crown Premises Inspection Group (CPIG). CPIG is the team of Fire Inspectors, appointed by the Secretary of State, to enforce the Regulatory Reform (fire Safety) Order) 2005 within Crown Premises.
The detailed job description was made available to the public ahead of Sir Ken's appointment. It said the role of CFRA comes with a "substantial six figure package". The CFRA will have to set up the new unit, the last HM Chief inspector of Fire Services was Sir Graham Meldrum who retired in January 2007. The new post of CFRA has been created to reflect changes to the fire and rescue service in the UK brought about by the Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004
The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It came into effect on 1 October 2004. It only applies to Great Britain and most provisions apply only in England and Wales...
, although it only applies to England and Wales. However, it is anticipated that the CFRA will advise the government on any major incident in the UK.
See also
- Fire service in the United KingdomFire service in the United KingdomThe fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
- Her Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for ScotlandHer Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for ScotlandHer Majesty's Fire Service Inspectorate for Scotland or HM Fire Service Inspectorate is an autonomous agency of the Scottish Government - based in St Andrew's House, Edinburgh, its function is to: "improve the efficiency, effectiveness and standards of the fire and rescue services in Scotland", it...
- Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004The Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.It came into effect on 1 October 2004. It only applies to Great Britain and most provisions apply only in England and Wales...
- Women in firefighting