The fire & rescue service serves Oxfordshire, the most rural South East county. One third of the population live in towns or villages of fewer than 10,000 people.
The Oxfordshire Fire & Rescue Service has 25 stations. It works to reduce the incidence of fire through partnerships, education, advice and enforcement and to sustain an effective, efficient and economic fire & rescue service.
The service collaborates with Thames Valley Fire and Rescue Service partners, Buckinghamshire and Royal Berkshire, to improve the service to the public. This joint working has resulted in the joint purchasing of fire engines and equipment and breathing apparatus equipment sets. They have a joint joint control room that handles all emergency calls across the three services.
For over 160 years, His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary has 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.