Integrated Risk Management Plan
This page provides you with access to information and news about Integrated Risk Planning and the progress we are making in delivering improvements to public safety and modernisation of our fire and rescue service.
Already read the IRMP? Click here to go straight to the consultation return.
Introduction
The Fire and Rescue Service is evolving to improve public safety and meet the ever-changing demands of the 21st century. The primary aim is the prevention of fires and other emergencies, by educating and informing about safety awareness, protection and by promoting safety in the home, at work and other places. Inevitably, emergencies will still occur, necessitating intervention and help in mitigating the damage caused.
The Government's White Paper Your Fire and Rescue Service set out the modernisation requirements for UK fire and rescue services. These proposals subsequently came to life in the National Framework document, which directs all Fire Authorities to issue and maintain an Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP), and publish and consult on an Action Plan on an annual basis.
The Government considers that effective IRMPs will deliver the following fundamental things:
- Identify existing and potential risks to the community within the authority area.
- Evaluate the effectiveness of current preventative and response arrangements.
- Identify opportunities for improvement and determine policies and standards for prevention and intervention.
- Determine resource requirements to meet these policies and standards.
IRMPs are not only about replacing national fire-cover standards with local ones. They involve shifting the focus in planning to put people first, looking at the risks arising from the full range of fires and other emergency incidents, and at the options for their reduction and management. To be effective, IRMPs need to provide a fully integrated, risk-managed approach to community safety, fire safety inspection and enforcement, and emergency response arrangements that will contribute to a safer environment.
To provide a fair and equitable fire and rescue service, authorities will have to take into account of the diverse needs of the population they serve and assess how best to meet these needs, particularly in relation to community safety provisions.
IRMPs by character will be dynamic documents reviewed and revised regularly as circumstances change and new information becomes available. It may take a number of years to achieve some of the changes identified in them and to meet the targets and objectives. At the same time, they are also likely to identify a number of early actions that can be taken to improve community safety and service delivery. An important underpinning principle, however, is that there must be adequate evidence to support and justify any changes proposed, ensuring the maintenance and improvement in community safety.
Consultation
The Humberside Fire Authority published its first Integrated Risk Management Plan (IRMP) in April 2004. Within our first IRMP, we set out an Action Plan detailing a series of strategic tasks, which laid out the measures we would take over the 12-month period. This will be followed by further Annual Action Plans setting out our proposals over future years.
The Government considers that fire authorities should consult widely as part of the process of preparing their Integrated Risk Management Plans (IRMPs) and annual Action Plans. This will help to ensure that Plans draw on the widest possible range of data and views and represent the best possible response to local needs and wishes. Effective consultation should ensure that as far as is possible everyone concerned feels that they have had their say or at least that their interests have been taken into account.
To enable us to discharge this requirement a consultation strategy has been produced, the principles of which will be applied in consultation procedures concerning Annual Action Plans and also during closer engagement with specific local communities, representative bodies and other stakeholder groups.
Click here to join our Consultation Scheme and provide feedback to HFRS.
Further Information
If you have a question or a comment on our Integrated Risk Management Plan or any of the Annual Action Plans, then please contact us via the following means:
Email us at irmp@humbersidefire.gov.uk or use our website contact form.
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service
HQ
Summergroves Way
Kingston Upon Hull
England
HU4 7BB