GOVERNMENT plans for firefighters and police officers to both be overseen by police and crime commissioners have been welcomed by North-East and North Yorkshire PCCs.

The elected officials would be given the chance to assume control of overseeing fire services in their area under plans announced today (Friday, September 11).

The PCCs will then be able to put in place a single "employer" led by a senior officer in charge of hiring all local fire and police personnel.

Unions attacked the proposals but Ron Hogg, Durham Police and Crime Commissioner, said he welcomed the plans.

"Any opportunity to strengthen collaboration and bring services closer together should be strongly considered, in order to provide enhanced services to our communities.

"Police and Fire already work closely together in County Durham and Darlington, but I believe we can go further. In these austere times, we need to be smarter, reduce duplication and ensure we are delivering services that are as efficient as they can be."

North Yorkshire PCC Julia Mulligan also backed the proposal.

"PCCs have for some time been making the case to combine support services and take over the powers of fire authorities.

"This makes complete sense – we can save considerable amounts of money, cut out bureaucracy and improve accountability to the public."

New legislation will allow PCCs to take on the responsibility of the fire and rescue authority in their area "where a local case is made that it would be in the interests of economy, efficiency and effectiveness, or public safety".

A single employer could then be created under the PCC's governance and be led by a chief officer, who will need to be of chief constable rank.

A Government consultation setting out the proposals stressed that the distinction between operational policing and firefighting will be maintained.

Ministers claim the moves will improve efficiency and make it easier for the two services to share back office functions.

The reforms will also place fire, police and ambulance services under a statutory duty to consider opportunities for collaboration.

Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), said there is "absolutely no case" for PCCs to take over fire and rescue services.

He said: "These are badly thought out proposals from a Government which couldn't care less about emergency services or those they employ.

"Police are law enforcers, while fire and rescue is a humanitarian service with a very different remit and culture."

Policing Minister Mike Penning said commissioners are accountable and "uniquely placed to improve the way the emergency services are delivered at a local level".