Introduction

Welcome to our Annual Statement of Assurance

In April 2025, we launched our Community Risk Management Plan (CRMP) 2025–2028, setting out how we will deliver services to our communities over the next three years. The plan outlines six strategic goals that will guide our work as we strive towards becoming an outstanding fire and rescue service.

This Annual Statement of Assurance is our first report linked to the 2025–2028 CRMP and fulfils our requirement under the Fire and Rescue National Framework for England to report annually on our progress. It highlights the achievements, improvements, and outcomes delivered during 2025/26, demonstrating how we are working towards our core purpose of creating safer communities.

Throughout the year, we have continued to invest in our people, our culture, and the services we provide. Through our prevention, protection, and response activities, supported by the dedication and professionalism of our enabling services, we have maintained our commitment to delivering high-quality services while building a resilient and sustainable organisation for the future.

We have also prioritised creating an inclusive workplace, investing significantly in our stations and training facilities to ensure they are modern, accessible, and provide a safe and dignified environment for everyone.

We continued to operate within a challenging environment shaped by national economic pressures, financial uncertainty, evolving community risks, and a continued focus across the fire sector on culture, standards of behaviour, and diversity.

Despite these challenges, we continued to deliver against our strategic priorities, making considerable progress on key programmes of work.

We hope this report provides assurance that we remain focused on delivering the best possible service, being accountable for our performance, and working every day to keep our communities safe.