Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE

COMMUNITY FIRE SAFETY TASK GROUP MEETING

MONDAY 12 AUGUST 2002 AT

C53 REDBRIDGE HILL FIRE STATION

            Present: DO A Hiney - HQ

                  ADO S Hamm - HQ

                  StnO J Greenbank - C53

                  LFf E Barker - Community Support Team

                  Mr R Bendall - Community Support Team

                  SubO M Carter

                  Red Watch Personnel

1 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

      Apologies were received from Cllr Cartwright, DCFO A House, T/SDO C House.

2 STATION CFS ACTION PLAN

    StnO J Greenbank presented details of the station action plan and in particular the project car clear run in partnership with Southampton City Council. The scheme is now in its 6th month of operation and to date has removed 500 cars from the streets. Results thus far are encouraging with a 50% decrease of car fires on last years figures. Direct links have been established with the Police car crime unit and all deliberate car fires are reported to them. This has resulted in two youths being prosecuted, one being banned from the area and the other tagged and placed on curfew.

3 MINUTES OF LAST MEETING

    The minutes of the last meeting were read and accepted as a true record, there were no matters arising.

4 YOUTH LIAISON

    4.1 Young Firefighters

              A strategy for the expansion of the YFA has been drawn up with the next group to be established at B19 Waterlooville by the end of this year. Local funding opportunities are being addressed.

        4.2 Firesetters

              We have received 80 referrals to the counselling service this year involving 92 children. All cases have been assigned and are being dealt with by the team volunteers.

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        4.3 Prince's Trust Volunteers (PTV)

              Team One of the PTV are now in the final stages of their programme. They have completed their work experience, activity challenge and the community project. This last phase involved planning, fund raising for and building a wildlife garden for Townhill Park School. The recruitment phase for Team Two has commenced and the team commence on the 16 September.

        4.4 Arson Intervention

              A range of initiatives which include the Redbridge car clear project are resulting in improved statistics relating to arson incidents. Closer links with Police investigators and training links with fire investigators/scenes of crime officers is improving the detection and prosecution rate for arson. This month one man has been sentenced to 6 years imprisonment for setting fire to a house in Basingstoke last year. There have been 2 other successful prosecutions this year with 2 more cases in Crown Court in August.

        4.5 Community Support Team (CST)

              LFf Barker and Mr Bendall have been appointed to the CST and have been operational since the start of June. Whilst they still await delivery of the vehicle dedicated to the team and have been undergoing training and familiarisation, they have attended 34 incidents to date and have dealt with a range of issues including firesetter referrals, smoke detector fitment, community surveys/fire safety education and placement of the "Arson Alert" boards.

        4.6 Neighbourhood Wardens

              This scheme is becoming more widespread across the county and is having very real benefits with links established to CFS departments. We have delivered training to a number of wardens groups on fire safety issues and have used a CACFOA approved syllabus as a base for the training. Wardens are able to identify and deal with potential problem sites and also to notify Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service of those perceived to be at greater risk from fire.

        4.7 National Fire Action Plan Campaign

              The major national CFS campaign for 2002 will be launched on 20 September. The TV campaign will run for a month and will use last years advert for 2 weeks and than a new advert to promote the need to have an escape plan. We will support the campaign with local promotions.

        4.8 Home Risk Assessment

              Plans are almost finalised to move to one home risk assessment policy and procedure. This will merge the elements of Target 2000 with smoke detector supply and fit. Major issues surrounding the funding of this initiative will be resolved by a combination of sponsorship, SRB funding (or similar) and CFS budget.

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        4.9 "Toolbox" Web Page

              The "Toolbox" manuals have been published on a dedicated website www.firesafetytoolbox.co.uk and it is an excellent site to use with a full search facility to easily locate detail for all the CFS topics covered. It lists best practice and support material together with detailed guidance.

5 Date of next meeting Tuesday 12 November 2002 at 1430 hours.

Dir.fin HFRA 25 9 2002 CFS Taskforce 12 8 02