• Fire Service - Natalie Hayes

The Wirral District is led by Paul Murphy who has overall responsibility for the 6 Community Fire Stations along with the Wirral Community Safety Team which is located at Wallasey Fire Station. The Community Safety Team is a cross functional team which consists of both operational and advocacy staff, and is structured to focus on the Prevention and Protection of Wirral’s communities through engagement with the most vulnerable individuals in our communities.

Wirral Community Safety Team are currently developing and publishing a Wirral Community Safety Plan which will be accompanied by 6 Wirral Community Fire Stations Plans that are linked to the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service Integrated Risk Management Plan. 

We have held a series of planning meetings at local fire stations, involving partners and staff in the design and delivery of community safety activities to improve responsiveness to local needs. The Plans recognise the diverse nature of the communities of Wirral and will enable our Community Safety activity to be tailored specifically to the needs of the local community and complement the delivery of agreed local priorities.

The initiatives within each of the plans will be bespoke to that area however there will be cross cutting themes for the Wirral which will include:

• The reduction of Accidental Dwelling Fires, Deaths & Injuries
• Road Traffic Collisions Education and Reduction
• Reduction in incidents of arson and anti-social behavior
• Seasonal Activities – Fire Watch & Bonfire Strategy

Some of the more innovative initiatives which will be included will be:

• Homeless project
• Excess winter death initiative
• Fire Fit Active Challenge

Feedback on Bonfire period for 2011 – extremely successful on Wirral with an obvious decrease in ASB fires across the District. Local events supported this with Beechwood & Ballantyne and Ridgeway High School holding bonfire night events.

• Merseyside Police - Inspector Mick Blease

Gave an update on the services they run i.e. Have Your Say meetings, Surgeries and One to One sessions that residents can attend to raise issues.

Team/Staff are not being reduced only downsized, we have lost a PCSO as they have moved to Wallasey. There has been a review of all PCSO’s and they are spread across Wirral.  This area still has 7 PCSO’s.

Heswall is a safe area including Hoylake and West Kirby.

• Community Safety – Jim Thompson/Mike Collins

Mike Collins gave update on the development of the Dog Fouling Enforcement Team they now have 5 permanent officers tackling this, have issued over 70 tickets, currently working in parks and open spaces, service operates 7 days a week and covers the whole of Wirra including roads/pavements. Officers are in uniform but also operate non-uniform tackling hot stop areas. Also working with local schools on educating our young people. Fixed penalties have been issued at £50, this is a criminal offence and worse cases can go to court and be fined up to £1,000 and a criminal record.

Working in partnership with Police on project called “Stay Safe” service operates 24/7 and includes the security of parks.

Councilor Mark Johnston spent half day with the Dog Fouling Team and found it valuable and to learn about their service. Mark has given the team a list of priority roads that need monitoring.

Jim Thompson informed the forum of the partnership working between Fire, Police, and Council addressing crime and safety.  All organisations are working towards the bon fire strategy plan for 2012.