New 'hybrid' police officers for Harrogate district idea supported by candidate

Conservative candidate Philip Allott said he supported the current pilot scheme for the new 'hybrid' public safety officers who would simultaneously be an on-call firefighter, part of the local policing team and medical first responder pending the arrival of an ambulance.

Mr Allott, a public relations expert who was educated at King James’ School in Knaresborough, said: “In some of the more rural parts of North Yorkshire, this means we can actually have somebody who is an on-call firefighter, PCSO and NHS emergency first responder – funded for fulltime employment using different pots.”

“This is a great way in bringing three different roles together that provides value for money, full time employment and offers greater protection for the community located in the more rural parts of North Yorkshire, where it is becoming more challenging to find retained firefighters within four minutes travel time of a fire station.”

The pilot programme taking place in Craven does not involve public safety officers wearing all hats at once – just one hat with three badges representing their roles in the police, fire and as a NHS emergency first responder.

A key part of the job will involve working with the local community to help deliver fire safety, crime prevention and health and wellbeing information to local schools, residents and the wider community, along with supporting vulnerable people.

The policing part is based on using the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme powers authorised by the Chief Constable and will focus on reducing anti-social behaviour, with the aim of increasing public confidence.

Similar schemes are already in place in Devon and Cornwall, as well as Cumbria but the whole idea of 'hybrid' officers has been largely criticised by the Fire Brigades Union.

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Mr Allott believes it is a way of using public resources more efficiently in rural areas whilse also providing more public safety including helping people in the local community who have had trips and falls.

Should he win in May's election for North Yorkshire PFCC, Mr Allott said he would look to expand the role elsewhere in other rural locations in North Yorkshire, while also expanding the size of North Yorkshire’s Police Service with more full time officers.

Nominations for the role of PFCC for North Yorkshire will close at the end of March.

The other candidates so far are:

Mark Christie (Lib Dem)

Keith Tordoff MBE (Independent)

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