Emergency services announce £7.5 million collaborative programme

The plans, which have today been approved by Lincolnshire County Council’s community and public safety scrutiny committee, will see the emergency services in Lincolnshire work closer together in a bid to ‘improve frontline services and strengthen partnerships’.

The programme includes centralising Police and Fire to a ‘co-located command and control centre’, in Nettleham and having a ‘blue light tri-service campus’ for police, fire and ambulance, at South park, in Lincoln.

This will be in addition to wider sharing of locations across the county and reviewing how services could work more closely together.

The partners include Lincolnshire Police, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, East Midlands Ambulance Service, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Lincolnshire County Council.

The money is part of aninvestment from the Government’s Police Innovation Fund and match funding from local services.

It is expected the programme will be delivered by summer 2018.

Neil Rhodes, Chief Constable at Lincolnshire Police, said: “This is an innovative and exciting concept, but it is complex and should all or any part of it be considered workable, it would take a considerable time to fully implement. Of course, as discussions progress, staff associations will be consulted and public announcements will be made.

“Our overarching principle is to improve the service we provide to Lincolnshire.”

Police and Crime commissioner Marc Jones said he had supported the collaboration during his election process.

He added: “Whilst West Parade police station may be sold, at the root of this is our firm commitment to policing in Lincoln which will not change.

“Myself and the Chief Constable and all the other agencies involved are very clear that each organisation will maintain its individual identity.

“This is about effective partnership and not ‘take over’.”

Executive councillor for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue at Lincolnshire County Council Coun Nick Worth called the proposals ‘interesting’ adding that they ‘would see the emergency services in Lincolnshire using their buildings and estates in a more effective manner, which is in line with the Government’s agenda for closer collaboration.

He added: “It would allow financial efficiencies in the longer term, better opportunities for closer working and will undoubtedly improve services for the public.”

The proposals will next be discussed by Lincolnshire County Council’s executive members on June 7.