Hertfordshire’s Fire and Rescue Service is ‘good’ at responding to major incidents but ‘inadequate’ at preventing fires and other risks, according to an inspection report published on Tuesday.
The report was published by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS), following a 12-week inspection that assessed performance in 11 different areas of the service’s work.
In three of those areas – ‘responding to major incidents’, ‘future affordability’, and ‘managing performance and developing leaders’ – the service was found to be ‘good’.
In ‘understanding fire and risk’, ‘promoting values and culture’, and ‘promoting fairness and diversity’, the service was rated as ‘adequate’.
But according to inspectors, performance in four areas – ‘public safety through fire regulation’, ‘responding to fires and emergencies’, ‘best use of resources’, and ‘right people, right skills’ – ‘requires improvement’.
The service’s work in ‘preventing fire and risk’ was given the inspector’s lowest rating of ‘inadequate’.
No category of the service’s work was judged by inspectors to be ‘outstanding’.
In the report, HM Inspector Lee Freeman said he was “satisfied with some areas of the performance” in keeping people safe and secure from fire and other risks.
But he said he had “serious concerns about how effective the service is at preventing fires and other risks”.
According to the report, the service’s prevention activity – such as home fire safety visits – was found not to be targeted at those who were most at risk.
Crews, it says, were “concentrating on achieving a numerical target rather than making sure activity is targeted to those who need it most”.
And it found there was not a robust evaluation process for prevention activity, which – it says – means the service is “potentially missing opportunities to improve its prevention work for the public”.
Concerns relating to the service’s prevention work were highlighted in October when HMICFRS issued an ‘accelerated cause for concern’.
Published following the inspection but prior to the publication of the report, the service was given 28 days to develop an action plan related to prevention work.
And in the inspection report, Mr Freeman says he will revisit the service this year (2025) to review the progress made.
In the report, Mr Freeman says he was pleased that the service had made “some progress” in other areas since the 2022 inspection, published in 2023.
And he said he was pleased that the service was progressing its estates strategy, which will lead to improved and inclusive facilities for staff.
Rated as ‘good’ by inspectors was the way that the service responds to major and multi-agency incidents.
According to the report, the service has “effectively anticipated and considered the reasonably foreseeable risks and threats it may face”.
And it is well-prepared to respond to major incidents involving tall buildings.
Commenting on the report, Hertfordshire’s chief fire officer Alex Woodman says it evidences positive progress within the Herts Fire and Rescue Service.
And he specifically highlights the improvements to the service’s Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP), the positive collaboration with other emergency services, and work to create a fair and inclusive working environment.
But he has also acknowledged that “there’s more work to be done”.
And he said: “Our service is on a journey to becoming outstanding.
“To achieve that we must continuously look to enhance and improve, we need to honestly evaluate what we’ve achieved so far, and where we need to do more.
“This report highlights areas where there’s more work to be done as part of our commitment to providing the best service to the public.”
Councillor Morris Bright MBE, executive member for public health and community safety, said: “This report is evidence of the progress and steady improvements that Hertfordshire Fire & Rescue is making, not only for those working in the service, but for the communities we serve.
“The people of Hertfordshire have the right to expect an outstanding fire and rescue service, and I am pleased with the progress that has been made so far, but there are some areas that need to be addressed as a priority. The dedicated crews and colleagues in the service have my full support as they continue this task.
“I am looking forward to seeing the service continue to transform and ensuring that our fire and rescue service is one that we can all carry on being proud of.”
Deborah is a Local Democracy Reporter covering news across Hertfordshire, with a strong focus on councils, local government and public policy. Her reporting includes county council decisions, council tax, spending pressures, legal and regulatory issues, healthcare stories including junior doctors, and community projects affecting local residents.
