Latest news from PFCC Roger Hirst - 10th November 2023
PFCC Roger Hirst joins MP Anna Firth in viewing Southend’s mobile CCTV vehicle
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst visited Southend today to join Anna Firth MP in viewing a mobile CCTV vehicle managed by Southend City Council Community Safety Unit.
The vehicle is equipped with 4 external digital static cameras and 1 moveable dome camera on its roof and is deployed twice weekly with patrols concentrating on identified hotspots and night time economy. Since its first deployment in July 2023 the vehicle has completed 27 patrols.
Essex Police, South Essex Homes, SCC Youth Offending Team and SCC Community Safety have been able to address youth ASB, car cruising, fly tipping and other criminal activity by deploying the vehicle across Southend.
The vehicle will shortly be upgraded to provide a live feed to the control room in Southend, allowing the vehicle to be deployed at special events where no CCTV coverage is available.
Chief Fire Officer Rick Hylton said: “We use our annual report to explain how we are keeping people safe, protecting our communities and managing our budgets and spending.
“Our mission is to make Essex a safe place to live, work and travel. All of us share a common goal in that we want to be one of the best fire and rescue services in the country. By continually raising our standards and improving what we do, we are providing the best protection we can to keep people safe.
Roger Hirst, Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, said: “Essex County Fire and Rescue Service has had a busy year across all its prevention, protection, and response services.
“During this period of high demand, it was the ability to work together which made a real difference, from staff members stepping into contingency roles, to local farmers creating firebreaks and the ambulance service providing extra support to crews, it was a true team effort.
“The Service has done excellent work examining the causes of historical fatal fires and identifying what happened and what could be done about it. This has helped to inform the work we can do with partners to reduce the risk to the most vulnerable in our communities and, together, prevent these tragic cases from happening.”
A ban on nitrous oxide, also known as ‘laughing gas’, came into force on Wednesday 8th November 2023 and will assist local authorities, organisations and police in tackling the anti-social behaviour caused through its use.
The law also aims to reduce health risks associated with the misuse of the Class C drug.
Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex, Roger Hirst said: “I welcome the change in law to make possessing nitrous oxide illegal. At our public meetings and through our correspondence, I hear over and again concerns about the silver cannisters and balloons littering our parks, playgrounds and public spaces.
“Nitrous oxide also causes harm to the young people who abuse it and it can be a gateway to more harmful drugs. I hope this legislation will go some way towards helping young people stop substance misuse and give police the tools to deal with the use of nitrous oxide effectively.”
Have your say on future funding for Essex Police and Essex Fire and Rescue Service
The Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) for Essex is asking county residents for their policing and community safety priorities to identify public appetite for investing more in Essex Police and Essex Fire and Rescue Service.
To hear those views, residents of all ages, in all Essex districts, are asked to complete the PFCC Precept survey for the financial year 2024/25.
