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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.

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is part of the Community Protection Directorate of Hertfordshire County Council, which is also the Fire and Rescue Authority. The service covers Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage and Watford, as well as St Albans.

29 fire stations are strategically placed across the county to provide emergency response to extinguish fires, with the aim of protecting life and property, rescue people from road traffic collisions, water and height, and deal with other emergencies such as wide-area flooding, chemical incidents and large animal rescues.

The service also plays a role in civil protection, working in partnership with other public bodies and private sector organisations to ensure an integrated approach to dealing with large-scale civil emergencies such as terrorist attacks and major rail or air accidents.

Connect with Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service

HMICFRS region and HMI

  • His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire & Rescue Services (HMI): Lee Freeman is HMI for for Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue Service
  • HMICFRS region: The service is in HMICFRS’ Eastern fire region

HMICFRS’ 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

634 square miles

Population

1.20m million people people
up2% local 5 yr change

Workforce

75% wholetime firefighters
25% on-call firefighters
0.51 per 1000 population local
0.54 national level
down2% local 5 yr change
down4% national 5 yr change

Assets

29 stations
40 fire engines

Incidents

9.1 fire incidents per 1000 population local
10.4 national
3.6 non-fire incidents per 1000 population local
3.5 national
3.9 fire false alarms per 1000 population local
4.3 national

Cost

£24.14 firefighter cost per person per year
£26.96 firefighter cost per person per year (national)