Threat to Fire Service

People, the Government are aiming to privatise the Fire Service - this could put peoples lives at risk. there is a link in this thread to sign the petition to try and stop this Government from privatising everything. I would urge you all to sign this petition and let the Government know what we feel about one our essential services.

Geoff

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Dear Geoff,

Revealed: it looks like the government is planning to privatise our fire service. It's trying to sneak in new laws that "would enable fire and rescue authorities in England to contract out their full range of services to a suitable provider". [1]

Every day, fire crews put their lives in danger to keep us safe. Within minutes of an emergency, we can expect fire engines to be there to save lives and protect our property. Privatising these vital services might seem crazy. But that’s exactly what the government is trying to slip through a hush-hush parliamentary committee. [2]

Let’s make sure the government knows we’re watching. We’ve seen bad ideas get much too far before. We need to move fast to show the government that we want a fire service whose priority is protecting people's lives, not making profit. Together we can prove how unpopular privatising the fire service would be with the public. Sign the petition here:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/fire-service-sell-off

Our fire service is a precious emergency service that we all depend on for our lives and our safety. Between 2011 and 2012, English firefighters attended 606,000 incidents. [3] If the government is allowed to sell the fire service off to private companies, then the essence of our fire service, a service for all of us whenever we need it, might be lost forever.

Private companies have been circling the fire service for years. [4] They recognise that money can be made and they want to piggyback off a service the public holds dear.

The government can’t afford another big battle over privatisation. It'll know that 38 Degrees members were responsible for stopping the sell-off of our forests and making sure the NHS changes were as controversial as possible. [5]

So let’s make sure they know they're up against us again. Sign the petition to stop privatisation of our fire service now:
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/fire-service-sell-off


Thanks for being involved,

Becky, James, Hannah and the 38 Degrees team


NOTES
[1] Daily Mirror - Fire sale: Secret government bid to privatise fire and rescue services revealed: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news...secret-1593277
Letter from Brandon Lewis outlining the plan: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/fire-letter
[2] For more information about the Regulatory Reform Committee click here: http://www.parliament.uk/business/co...orm-committee/
[3] Fire Statistics Monitor, April 2011 - March 2012: https://www.gov.uk/government/upload...59/2172323.pdf
[4] BBC News - Fire Service College to be sold to Capita: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england...shire-20715276
[5] Great news: Government agree to protect our forests: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2013/02...t-our-forests/
NHS: A round up: http://blog.38degrees.org.uk/2012/03/21/nhs-roundup/

Re: Threat to Fire Service

I think privatising any public service is a BIG MISTAKE!

Re: Threat to Fire Service

Yes Willowm darlin' - no argument on that point from me.

Re: Threat to Fire Service

So do I that is why I signed the petition when it was sent to me, regardless of any politics, I'd rather the Fire Brigade remained in our hands and not flogged off to he highest bidder. I wonder who would want to put in a bid for it, no doubt someone will explain, but I can only think so they can make a profit, but how will they do that, by putting up cost and cutting services even more. Presumably the cost will be taken off our council tax, yes well i won't hold my breath on that one. I don't take part in politics I only want to know what it will cost me, and I'd guess quite a bit. Unless this is a crafty move so they can say Well to keep the Fire Services in your hands you'll have to pay substantially more than you do now.

Re: Threat to Fire Service

Great big mistake to even think of privatising the fire service.

Thanks for the links, UJ. I am not sure what our Scottish government are doing about it yet. Probably follow like the sheep they are!