Grampian FRS forced to use Firelink

Scotland's community safety minister Fergus Ewing said he was forcing Grampian to use Firelink because it was the only fire service in Scotland not to have fitted the system within the scheduled national implementation programme, completed in April. Although Grampian had installed Firelink in 105 fire appliances and support vehicles, officers' cars remained outside the system. Ewing laid a statutory instrument before the Scottish Parliament on 18 June 2010, which requires Grampian Fire And Rescue to complete the installation of Firelink before 30 September. He said that he had acted on the recommendations of the chief inspector and after discussions aimed at resolving the issue had "gone on for too long and must now be brought to a conclusion". "The decision to introduce Firelink was taken following the September 11 and July 7 terrorist attacks where mobile phone networks went down, highlighting the need for a single, reliable communications system linking all emergency services," the minister said. "I am disappointed that I have had to take this step, but the Scottish government cannot allow this impasse to continue indefinitely. To do so would leave a gap in the nationwide response system designed to protect us all." Grampian's failure to fit Firelink during the national implementation programme will result in additional costs, which will be met by that fire and rescue service rather than the Scottish government, which had otherwise funded Firelink. Firelink will cover some 90,000 square miles across Scotland, including remote rural communities. It is also being introduced across England and Wales to create a single communication system for emergency response vehicles across Great Britain. The system includes the capability to allow mobilisation messages to be sent directly to fire appliances, and a GPS location element which aims to improve service operations and firefighter safety by tracking every resource.