Project Director's Forword
Stephen Long, Deputy
Chief Constable
and
Project Director
Winter is well and truly with us, and for some, preparations for Christmas are well advanced. I really hope that you don’t have a need for the Emergency Services at Christmas or the rest of the year, but the fact is with darker nights, cold weather, bonfires, faulty tree lights and increased alcohol consumption, this time of year is a really busy time for Ambulance, Fire and Police Services. This website is designed to provide you with a brief insight into the many areas of work where the three Emergency Services are working together to provide you a better service, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year – not just at Christmas!
The Wiltshire Emergency Communications Centre in London Road, Devizes was officially opened in November 2003. The spirit of co-operation, communication and co-ordination extends beyond the Centre to other collaborative ventures, strengthening our relationship between the three services.
This website gives examples of how the three services have worked together both operationally and through sharing resources and expertise to deliver a more effective and cost efficient service to the public.
Vote Of Confidence
The Audit Commission have recently conducted an appraisal of the progress of the new Emergency Communication Centre and the related projects that are part of the Wiltshire Emergency Services Project.
The Audit Commission were very positive about the achievements of the project, and particularly the central element, the Emergency Communications Centre.
Working Together... How it all started !
A strong culture of co-operation has existed between the Ambulance, Fire and Police Emergency Services in Wiltshire for many years.
Dame Elizabeth Neville, DBE, QPM, MA, PhD, former Chief Constable,
Lt-General Sir Maurice Johnston, KCB, OBE, Lord Lieutenant,
HRH Duchess Of Gloucester GCVO, Chief Inspector Paul Williams
with a police member of Emergency Communications Staff.The Wiltshire Emergency Services set up a joint project group in February 1998 to look at the feasibility of co-locating stations, collaborating on shared services, and co-locating the Ambulance, Fire and Police control rooms on a site in London Road, Devizes, on land owned by Wiltshire Police Authority.
In July 1999 the three services were informed that they had been successful in an application for funding for the project from the Government's Invest to Save Budget. A grant of £2.6m was made towards the costs of a shared control room at London Road Devizes.
The new building called the Wiltshire Emergency Communications Centre was opened by the Duchess of Gloucester in November 2003.
A four page supplement on the working of Wiltshire Emergency Services is available in the December edition of the 'Wiltshire Life' Magazine, produced with help from Thomson Local Directories.
