News Release - Operational Statistics England & Wales

Initial Email Enquiry –

08 November 2004

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister published today the first issue of the Fire and Rescue Service Operational Statistics bulletin, which covers operational fire statistics for 2001/02 and 2002/03.

The statistics are presented under four chapter headings; staffing and other resources, equality and diversity, health and safety and other operational activities. The main points, that have not been published previously, are outlined below.

Staffing and other resources

Levels of staffing have remained broadly stable since 1999 for both wholetime and retained firefighters. Whilst the number of retained staff leaving the service has decreased over this period, a consistent recruitment shortfall has persisted from 1999 to 2003 in the retained sector, where staffing is approximately 20 per cent below complement.

Equality and diversity

Increases in the proportion of ethnic minority staff in the wholetime, fire control and non-uniformed sectors were reported. Female representation in the operational sector, as a percentage of the workforce increased to 2.1 per cent.

Health and Safety

The annual number of injuries sustained during operational incidents (i.e. fire incidents and special service incidents) has remained below the level reported in 1999/00. There were three firefighter fatalities in 2002/03, two during operational incidents and one during training for operational incidents. These were the first deaths since 2000/01.

Operational Activities

Since 1998/99 the number of special service Road Traffic Accidents (RTAs) attended by the Fire and Rescue Service has steadily increased to 43,444 in 2002/03. Similarly, the number of non-RTA special service incidents attended has shown a general upward trend since 1998/99.

Notes to Editors
1. This bulletin is a new publication containing the latest statistics relating to operational issues affecting Fire and Rescue Services in England and Wales. The content is based largely on the information formerly covered in the HMFSI Chief Inspector’s Report Statistical Annex. The full Chief Inspector’s report was last published in 2001, covering the year 2000/01, and its publication was suspended during the industrial dispute, although the statistics continued to be collected. The changed role of the Inspectorate and the introduction of the National Framework mean that there is no longer any need for the publication of a separate Chief Inspector’s report.

2. The figures in the publication are compiled from administrative annual returns on Fire and Rescue Service operational issues submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) by fire authorities. They collect information on staffing and other resources, equality and diversity, health and safety and other operational activities.

3. The statistics in the bulletin on fires and false alarms (table 30) and calls handled by fire control rooms (tables 32 and 33) have been published previously in Fire Statistics Monitors, and in the 2001/02 and 2002/03 Best Value publications, respectively.

4. Copies of the "Fire and Rescue Service Operational Statistics for England and Wales, 2002/03" bulletin and other fire statistical publications can be downloaded via the ODPM website. http://www.odpm.gov.uk also available below.

Click here to download /view document on Fire & Rescue Service Operational Statistics Bulletin (PDF document)

End of email correspondence on Topic to date

Author’s identities are concealed for privacy and security reasons. Further information on the information contained in this topic can be directed to the JOIFF secretariat.