Independent Review of the Fire Service
Encyclopedia
The Independent Review of the Fire Service, sometimes referred to as the Bain Report or IRFS was a wide-ranging report carried out by Professor Sir George Bain
, in 2002, at the request of the government, into the how Fire and Rescue Services were operated and managed; and about the working conditions of firefighters in the UK. When the report was completed, its full title was The Future of the Fire Service: reducing risk, saving lives - The Independent Review of the Fire Service
, although it is generally known by the shortened name (including the online version). On publication, its authors said the report: "sets out our recommendations for how the service should change in the future to meet the demands of the twenty-first century." The report prompted a prolonged period of industrial action
in the UK by firefighters, the first national strike since 1977. The Bain report made several recommendations, that led to wide ranging changes in the approach to fire and rescue authorities (FRS) in the UK. It was controversial because of its extensive scope, and in 2006, many changes to UK FRS continue as a direct result of it.
that led to a change in the primary legislation for the operation of FRS.
George Bain (academic)
Sir George Sayers Bain, a Canadian by birth born in Winnipeg and attended Miles MacDonell Collegiate, was President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2004.- Biography :...
, in 2002, at the request of the government, into the how Fire and Rescue Services were operated and managed; and about the working conditions of firefighters in the UK. When the report was completed, its full title was The Future of the Fire Service: reducing risk, saving lives - The Independent Review of the Fire Service
, although it is generally known by the shortened name (including the online version). On publication, its authors said the report: "sets out our recommendations for how the service should change in the future to meet the demands of the twenty-first century." The report prompted a prolonged period of industrial action
UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003
The 2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute began when the UK firefighters union, the Fire Brigades Union , voted to take strike action in an attempt to secure a better salary...
in the UK by firefighters, the first national strike since 1977. The Bain report made several recommendations, that led to wide ranging changes in the approach to fire and rescue authorities (FRS) in the UK. It was controversial because of its extensive scope, and in 2006, many changes to UK FRS continue as a direct result of it.
Report authors
The review consisted of three members, chaired by Bain. Their credentials are described below, when the report was publiched in 2002. The IRFS took three months to complete, the first firefighter strikes were in November, just before the IRFS was published.- Professor Sir George BainGeorge Bain (academic)Sir George Sayers Bain, a Canadian by birth born in Winnipeg and attended Miles MacDonell Collegiate, was President and Vice-Chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland from 1998 to 2004.- Biography :...
, President and Vice-chancellor, Queen's University Belfast - Professor Sir Michael LyonsSir Michael LyonsSir Michael Lyons , is the non-executive chairman of the English Cities Fund and Participle Ltd; he is a former Chairman of the BBC Trust....
, Director, INLOGOV and Professor of Public Policy, University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. In 2007 he was appointed as chair of the BBC TrustBBC TrustThe BBC Trust is the governing body of the British Broadcasting Corporation. It is operationally independent of BBC management and external bodies, and aims to act in the best interests of licence fee payers.... - Sir Anthony Young, Trade Union Liaison Officer, Ethical Trading Initiative; and lately President of the Trades Union CongressTrades Union CongressThe Trades Union Congress is a national trade union centre, a federation of trade unions in the United Kingdom, representing the majority of trade unions...
Scope of the IRFS
- The role of the fire service today
- The future role of the fire service
- Risk and community fire safety
- Role of central and local government
- Implementation and management policy
- Pay, pensions, conditions of service
- Retained firefighters
- Implementing reform
Implications of the IRFS
The IRFS had the effect of changing firefighters pay and conditions, and created a massive structural change to the fire service in the UK. It prompted a white paperWhite paper
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to...
that led to a change in the primary legislation for the operation of FRS.
See also
- Fire service in the United KingdomFire service in the United KingdomThe fire services in the United Kingdom operate under separate legislative and administrative arrangements in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales...
- UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003UK Firefighter dispute 2002/2003The 2002-2003 UK firefighter dispute began when the UK firefighters union, the Fire Brigades Union , voted to take strike action in an attempt to secure a better salary...
- Operation FrescoOperation FrescoOperation Fresco or Op FRESCO was the codename for the provision of basic emergency cover during the UK firefighter dispute 2002-2003 by civilian firefighters in the United Kingdom, in late 2002 and early 2003. The response to the industrial action was coordinated by the Office of the Deputy Prime...
- Fire Brigades UnionFire Brigades UnionThe Fire Brigades Union is a trade union in the United Kingdom for wholetime Firefighters , Retained Duty System and Emergency Control Room staff...
- Chief Fire Officers Association
- Fire Service CollegeFire Service CollegeThe Fire Service College is responsible for providing leadership, management and advanced operational training courses for senior fire officers from the UK and foreign fire authorities. It is located at Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire, England...
External links
- Independent Review of the Fire Service, at FRSOnline
- Independent Review of the Fire Service (cave: as of July 2007, this domain is owned by a domain grabber)
- Bain Report Review on Local Government Association
- "Agenda to deliver a modern Fire Service" at cheshirefire
- Department for Communities and Local Govt: Fire