Reduction in funding for Humberside Fire Service as a result of austerity
It's been responding to recent findings from the Fire Brigades Union
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service says it has seen a £12 million reduction in funding as a result of austerity.
It is as we told you yesterday that staff numbers have fallen by 31 percent, that is 322, over the past 11 years across the region.
In response, Humberside Fire and Rescue said:
"Humberside Fire and Rescue Service has seen a reduction in funding, in line with other Fire and Rescue Services across the sector, as a result of austerity.
"In real terms, this has resulted in a £12 million reduction between 2010/11 and 2020/21.
"Numbers of firefighters have remained the same since 2016 and the public can be assured we continue to meet our performance targets for availability and attendance times. Notably, the Service experienced a reduction in incidents for 2020/21 compared to 2019/20 whilst exceeding performance targets, with an average attendance time to dwelling fires of 6 minutes and 6 seconds for vehicles to reach the incident from the time of call. For further information, please view our 2020/21 Annual Performance Report (click here).
"We are currently beginning our next recruitment campaign for firefighters, filling vacancies arising through normal retirements. Over the next 12 months we are expecting to recruit up to 80 Full-Time and On-Call Firefighters, and would welcome applications from underrepresented groups. We are regularly oversubscribed with expressions of interest, currently 1270."