Tory candidate's pledge to roll out 'multiservice police officers' for rural areas of North Yorkshire

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The initiative involves the employment of multiservice officers who are a reserve firefighter, a member of the local policing team and a medical first responder pending the arrival of an ambulance.

The initial pilot programme saw the public safety officers wearing one hat but representing three badges comprising the police, fire and NHS emergency first responder.

A key part of the role has seen the public safety officers supporting the local community with fire safety training, crime prevention, presenting health and wellbeing information to local schools and residents and also supporting the more vulnerable.

The policing part is based on using the Community Safety Accreditation Scheme powers authorised by the chief constable and focuses on reducing anti-social behaviour, with the objective of enhancing public confidence.

Philip said: “I am delighted with the initial success in Craven which means that I feel confident in supporting its roll out elsewhere in the more rural parts of North Yorkshire, this means we can actually have somebody who is a reserve firefighter, PCSO and NHS emergency first responder – who can be financed for fulltime employment using a more flexible method of funding from different pots.”

“Ultimately, we have seen in Craven better value for money, the creation of full-time employment and the provision of firefighters, at a time when it is proving more difficult to recruit retained firefighters within four minutes travelling time to a fire station.”

The initiative is just one of a number of plans by Philip Allott, which will also see the expansion of North Yorkshire Police numbers thanks to the Conservative Government increased funding, allowing the recruitment of around 200 more police officers.

North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner elections in North Yorkshire, May 6, 2021

The other candidates

Labour: Alison Hume

Lib Dem: The party told the Harrogate Advertiser the process is underway to find a replacement for the Lib Dem PFCC candidate for North Yorkshire after the original candidate Mark Christie moved on to be the Lib Dem PFCC candidate for Cumbria.

Independent: Keith Tordoff

Factfile: North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner

The North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner (PFCC) elections will take place on Thursday, May 6; the same day as the North Yorkshire County Council Elections.

PFCCs are elected every four years and are elected representatives who oversee a police force and fire service area.

There will be one PFCC elected for all of North Yorkshire.

The winner will replace the current commissioner Julia Mulligan, who has come to the end of her term.

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