Merseyside PCC agrees joint police and fire control centre
Merseyside Police will work with the local fire service to develop a joint Police and Fire Command and Control Centre.
Merseyside Police will work with the local fire service to develop a joint Police and Fire Command and Control Centre.
Jane Kennedy, police and crime commissioner for Merseyside, signed the contract on March 6 approving the plans for the centre, which will be based at the Fire and Rescue headquarters on Bridle Road, Bootle.
Sharing the fire and police control room functions is intended to foster greater efficiency in delivering services, with technology a key area behind the move for shared infrastructure. Planning permission is being sought for the new building elements of the project, with some parts of the existing property remaining.
Ms Kennedy claimed the joint headquarters would prove to be a cheaper way to deliver the same services, adding it would provide much-needed employment experience for local young people.
It has taken a lot of hard work from both organisations and the former Merseyside Police Authority to reach this stage and I would like to thank everyone involved in driving this project forward, she said.
This collaboration will not only provide a more efficient service to the Merseyside community but it will also be a more cost-effective way of meeting ongoing service delivery needs in what are very challenging financial times.
It is vital that a major contract of this type should bring benefits to the local area and were delighted that this will be happening.
This is another example of successful partnership working and Im thrilled that young people in the area will be able to gain valuable experience by working on this development.