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WRITE TO YOUR MP

Stop, think, and reassess cuts to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

I am writing to you as your constituent to urge you to take action on the crisis facing our fire and rescue service.

Over the past 14 years, the service has been hit by devastating cuts:

*   Nearly 12,000 frontline firefighter roles have been lost
*   82 fire stations and 17 control rooms have closed
*   More than 200 fire engines have been removed from the frontline in England

At the same time, the absence of national standards means the emergency response people receive now depends on where they live. Across the board, response times have slowed: today, the first fire engine arrives at a fire on average 3 minutes later than it did in the 1990s. Delays, reduced crew sizes and fewer resources are putting lives at risk.

Central government funding has already been cut by 20% since 2010, and the latest settlement leaves the service facing an additional £102 million shortfall over the next three years. This is equivalent to 1,200 firefighters, or 2,300 once London and rural brigades are accounted for. Without urgent intervention, more frontline cuts will be inevitable, leaving communities across the UK less safe.

The impact of these cuts is already being felt in Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service. Despite strong opposition from councillors and the public, £1.6 million in further reductions have been pushed through, placing public safety at serious risk.

Since 2010, Hampshire and Isle of Wight has lost one in four firefighters and had its fleet of 80 appliances reduced to just 19 on occasions due to a lack of firefighters available to crew them. These relentless cuts have left the service stretched to breaking point. Recent inspections confirm what frontline crews already know: our fire service is struggling to meet even its own emergency response standards.

I ask you to support the following:

1.  Prevent further cuts to the fire and rescue service
2.  Invest in frontline resources so firefighters can continue to keep communities safe
3.  Introduce national standards to guarantee a safe and reliable response, regardless of postcode

This is about ensuring public safety and protecting a vital emergency service. Please raise this issue in Parliament and press the government to act before more lives are put at risk.