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# Staffordshire Commissioner welcomes fire service reform plans
- URL: https://lichfieldlive.co.uk/staffordshire-commissioner-welcomes-fire-service-reform-plans/
- Published: 2022-05-27T06:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2022-05-27T07:13:46.000Z
- Description: Government proposals on the future of the fire service across the country have been welcomed by the Staffordshire Commissioner.
- Author: Lichfield Live
- Tags: Politics, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-07-22 19:11, News

Government proposals on the future of the fire service across the country have been welcomed by the Staffordshire Commissioner.

The [White Paper on Fire Reform](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/home-secretary-unveils-ambitious-plans-for-fire-reform?ref=lichfieldlive.co.uk) focuses on introducing modern working practices, improved accountability through moving responsibility to an elected individual, and an increase in engagement with the public.

The Staffordshire Commissioner was the first in the country to be given responsibility for governance of a fire and rescue service, with the current incumbent Ben Adams saying the move had brought real benefits to residents and emergency workers.

> “The White Paper reflects the conversations I have been having with the Staffordshire Fire and Rescue service – I believe that we have a service that is ready, willing and able to do more to protect the public.  
>  
> “In Staffordshire, we’re experiencing first-hand the benefits of a single point of governance, as it allows for a more efficient, responsive service, able to react quickly to emerging public demand.  
>  
> “We saw this during the pandemic, where the service stepped up as part of the collective effort regionally, delivering food packages and helping vulnerable people, delivering PPE, and supporting testing and vaccination sites.   
>  
> “Bringing fire and rescue and police under a single point of governance in Staffordshire has also helped us make savings around shared services and locations, as part of a forward-thinking joint estates plan.”  
>  
> Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the aim of the White Paper on Fire Reform was to “strengthen and support” crews and help keep more people safe across the country.

Commissioner Adams said:

> “The governance model we have here is also better suited to transformation, and we can demonstrate the huge potential of a modern fire and rescue service – given more flexibility to address local need, there is a real opportunity for more imaginative and radical options for keeping people and places safe.  
>  
> “Working alongside the Chief Fire Officer, I’m looking for the service to go beyond what it currently does, using the expertise and capability of its teams to assist in other areas of demand, such as health.  
>  
> “As I set out in my recent Fire and Rescue Plan, today’s service has a greater role to play in responding to the impacts of climate change, the fire risks associated with waste and environmental crime, and the extra demands on buildings and public safety resulting from the tragic events at Grenfell Tower.   
>  
> “The work that fire and rescue services do has changed significantly in recent years, and the demands they face are more complex and varied than ever before.  
>  
> “We have a real opportunity to demonstrate not only the benefits of aligning the service more closely with the police, sharing resources and being stronger together, but also looking forward to what modern, 21st century services can be.”  
>  
> Staffordshire Commissioner Ben Adams