Closed consultation
Fire and rescue services inspection programme and framework 2025–27
Applies to England
Consultation description
This consultation document provides details of His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services’ proposed fire and rescue services (FRS) inspection programme and framework for 2025–27.
It asks for your views on whether we cover the right areas of FRS activity. In particular, we are seeking your responses to the following consultation questions:
- We propose to evaluate how each FRS is affected by its fire and rescue authority’s governance, oversight and scrutiny arrangements. We also propose to examine how the fire and rescue authority supports the FRS to keep the public safe, establish a positive culture and standards of conduct, and look after the health and well-being of its staff. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
- Do you agree or disagree that we should assess leadership at all levels of FRSs?
- We intend to combine the current efficiency questions 2.1 and 2.2 into a single question. This would concentrate on how resources are allocated and used in support of the outcomes required for the community risk management plan. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
- We propose to examine how FRSs work with local communities to make them more resilient. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?
- Does the draft ‘characteristics of good’ include the right questions to gather evidence for a comprehensive assessment of FRSs? How could this be improved?
- To expand some areas that we currently inspect and/or include new areas for inspection, we would need to reduce or remove some of those currently considered. What do you think we should spend less time on?
- Is there anything we can do to improve the way we report our findings?
- Are there any areas that you think we should examine more?
These questions are repeated in the body of the document. At the end of it, we explain how you can let us have your views.