West Midlands Fire Service is one of a number of responsible Authorities (including Local and Police Authorities and NHS Primary Care Trusts) who have a duty under Crime and Disorder legislation to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in the community. One of the most effective tools used to achieve this is to work with others in themed partnerships.
The Fire Service in the borough of Solihull works closely with agencies such as the Police, Youth Services (including Youth Offending Teams), Probation, local Housing Associations, the Highways Agency and Local Authority departments (street cleansing, waste management and neighbourhood wardens) to help make Solihull a safer place to live and work. As well as these public service organisations, the Fire Service also works with charities to achieve this including: Age Concern, Marie Curie and the Detached Youth Worker Project.
One example of partnership working in practice is the Road Safety Group, and in addition Solihull’s Fire Service is also an active member of the local Safer Communities Strategic Board (SCSB) as well as the Children and Young Peoples Partnership, Housing Focus Group, Social Inclusion Group and Anti-Social Behaviour Group.
It is via these channels that the local Fire Service is able to address a range of key issues that impact on its core business, from reducing fly tipping and helping to remove abandoned vehicles at one end of the scale to reducing arson, property fires and road traffic collisions at the other.
Further information on some of the partnerships and initiatives that Solihull’s Borough Fire Stations are involved with can be seen below;
The Solihull Partnership
http://www.solihull.gov.uk/solihullpartnership/default.htm
The Solihull Partnership is the strategic partnership responsible for improving outcomes for all people in Solihull.
The Partnership brings together local communities and their elected representatives, and public, private, voluntary and community sector organisations voluntarily to work in partnership to improve the lives of people in Solihull.
The Partnership wants to build:
Further information about the Solihull Partnership can be found by clicking on these links;
The Solihull Crime & Disorder Reduction Partnership
In Solihull this group is known as the Safer Communities Strategic Group (SCSG)
This is an alliance of organisations required by law to generate strategies and policies and implement actions and interventions concerning crime, disorder and substance misuse within their area.
The Solihull CDRP is committed to making Solihull a safe place in which to live, work and visit. It is our role to plan, commission and oversee services that tackle crime and disorder and address drug misuse.
All the members of the partnership have a role to play in tackling crime, the fear of crime, addressing substance misuse and communicating our work with our community.
The local Fire Service Teams also provided additional support during the past year targeted at addressing and reducing youth crime in the area. The Government Office of the West Midlands (GOWM) helped to fund three Fire Intervention Reparation & Education (FIRE) courses. These courses help young people who are in danger of entering the criminal justice system to develop their potential and stay out of trouble.
Further information about working in partnership with local service providers can be found by clicking on the following link –
http://www.solihull.gov.uk/Attachments/Safer_Communities_booklet1.pdf
Housing Focus Group
The Solihull Operations Command Team are currently working with the main registered social landlord, Solihull Community Housing to establish a Plan to provide Home Fire Safety Checks (HFSCs) to tenants. This will result in referrals for HFSCs from the highest risk group in Solihull, leading to a more effective use of our resources.
The Sanctuary Scheme
This scheme offers increased security in the homes of people who are, or may become victims of domestic violence. Part of the scheme includes a Home Fire Safety Check, carried out by specialists on our behalf. This scheme also targets our resources at those who are at the highest risk of fire in our community.
Homecheck
This scheme is operated in partnership with the Police and local housing providers. Homecheck offers an annual survey of the homes of older people and where necessary provides them with additional security and fire safety measures.
Linking People
The Linking People partnership operates between the Fire Service, the Pensions Service and Social Services. It aims to link older people with services that improve their mobility, safety and independence. Referrals for Home Fire Safety Checks are generated by their home visitors and are then conducted by Fire Service Personnel.
