The Home Office have today given the go-ahead for Cambridgeshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, Jason Ablewhite, to take on responsibility for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service from Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Fire Authority.

He will now become the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner.

The decision follows a year long process that involved the production of a business case which underwent a thorough consultation last summer.

The business case was formally submitted to the Home Office in October 2017. It was then independently assessed by The Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CiPFA) in December 2017.

Minister for Policing and the Fire Service, Nick Hurd said: “It’s great to see Police and Crime Commissioners identifying opportunities to drive greater collaboration between police and fire – there is a real opportunity to improve the services provided to local people.

“The proposals will encourage joint working, sharing of best practice and innovative thinking.

“Having a directly accountable leader overseeing both policing and fire will also help maximise available resources and drive transformation across both services. I look forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the local areas.”

Cllr Ablewhite said: “Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service do a vital job saving lives both through their prevention work, tackling fires and through their many other important roles.

“The changes announced today will focus on how the fire service is governed and I look forward to working with the fire authority to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities.”

The exact date for transfer of responsibilities has yet to be agreed.