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Proposed policing inspection programme and framework 2025–29: For consultation

We would like your views on whether this programme covers the the right themes and areas of policing.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service

The new Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service works across 61 stations, keeping nearly two million residents safe. The service’s headquarters is in Eastleigh, and was the first shared police and fire headquarters in England.

Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service and the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service combined to form a new organisation on 1 April 2021.

The new Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Authority governs the organisation. It is made up of representatives from Hampshire County Council, Isle of Wight Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council.

HMICFRS region and HMI

  • His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services (HMI): Roy Wilsher is HMI for Hampshire and Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service
  • HMICFRS region: The service is in HMICFRS’s Eastern fire region

HMICFRS’s role in inspecting this service

For over 160 years, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary independently assessed and reported on the efficiency and effectiveness of police forces and policing, in the public interest.

In summer 2017, HMIC (now HMICFRS) took on inspections of England’s fire & rescue services, assessing and reporting on their efficiency, effectiveness and leadership.

Key facts – 2022/2023

Service Area

1,602 square miles

Population

2.02m million people people
up2% local 5 yr change

Workforce (FTE)

59% wholetime firefighters
41% on-call firefighters
0.61 per 1000 population local
0.54 national level
down8% local 5 yr change
down4% national 5 yr change

Assets

61 stations
110 fire engines

Incidents

8.6 fire incidents per 1000 population local
10.4 national
2.4 non-fire incidents per 1000 population local
3.5 national
4.4 fire false alarms per 1000 population local
4.3 national

Cost

£23.55 firefighter cost per person per year
£26.96 firefighter cost per person per year (national)