Inspection of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service: East Service Delivery Area

How effective is the Service in the East SDA at keeping people safe? We consider this to be satisfactory.

The Service has a broadly good understanding of the risks across the East SDA. There is evidence of response arrangements being adapted to meet changes in risk.

Its prevention activity is targeted at those assessed as being most at risk from fire and other risks and is designed, and occasionally delivered, in partnership with others.

There was limited evidence of support from the Prevention and Protection Directorate leading to a strong feeling of detachment and disengagement by some staff.

The system used to support prevention delivery was said to be not attributing activity correctly to the East and was said to be too restrictive in its scoring matrix.

Whilst fire safety enforcement activity is conducted to a satisfactory level, the ability to meet audit targets has been impacted by a reduction in staff numbers. There are continuing issues with the enforcement recording system.