Group Manager nominated for Prestigious Award- October 2005

The awards are held annually, as part of FIRE 2005, and are aimed at promoting the UK fire industry.

The awards ceremony identifies and showcases examples of excellence in delivering improved fire safety services to the community.

 Nigel has been short listed in a final group of three from entries throughout the United Kingdom Fire Industry and was nominated for the award by his Area Manager, Dean McQue.

Dean had to submit a detailed submission of 500 words outlining the initiatives that Nigel had contributed to in order to improve fire safety within his community.

Dean stated “I nominated Nigel for his innovation, sheer hard work, his creativity and partnership working``.He added “The fantastic progress that is being made in North Yorkshire and the City of York in delivering Community Safety is put into perspective when we are recognised through nominations such as this”.

Nigel`s successes are:-

                     Through the Crime Reduction Partnership liaising with local partners to introduce a portable electronic `Speed Matrix` sign which was more versatile than the existing tool. The sign clearly shows the speed of the oncoming car and the Fire and Rescue and the Police run campaigns where speeding is considered a problem. The initiative has been so successful that other units are now used throughout North Yorkshire.

Through partnership working with Richmond District Council, he has influenced the introduction of a programme of fitting sprinkler systems into the domestic properties of vulnerable people. This is a unique but effective arrangement which fits the needs of a rural area and provides an intervention capability in remote areas or where the occupier may be unable to respond to an alert of fire quickly enough. The enterprising nature of the initiative targeted at higher risk areas is considered to be good investment/insurance in housing stock from the District Council’s view.

In response to a problem with car fires, he worked with the local authority and, by using Fire Service resources, has set up a scheme to quickly remove abandoned cars thereby preventing these cars being set alight or vandalised.

Through partnership working, Nigel is in the advanced stages of setting up a scheme to fit carbon monoxide detectors in rented properties throughout the District.

The introduction of community safety events within the local military establishments in the area, which have a high turnover of staff, both military personnel and their families have benefited from community safety advice. This includes particular acknowledgement of ethnic groups such as the Ghurkhas in planning the delivery of community safety.