A GOVERNMENT boss has praised Essex after it became the first county to join up the leadership of its emergency services.

As part of the Policing and Crime Act 2017, the government introduced a range of measures to encourage cooperation between emergency services in a bid to make them share more resources.

This included giving police and crime commissioners the power to take on governance of the fire and rescue services where a business case is made and supported by local authorities.

The chance to take over the responsibility of the fire service was part of Roger Hirst’s manifesto when he stood for election as Police and Crime Commissioner last year.

Yesterday, Nick Hurd, Home Office minister for policing and fire, praised Mr Hirst and Essex as a county for stepping forward and becoming the first to make the move.

He said: “It is great to see that Essex is taking the lead in this field and bringing forward a proposal which has the support of local authorities from right across across the county and many members of the public.

“I want to congratulate Essex on some great leadership here.

“We hope this will be the first of many authorities to make the change and hope that where Essex leads, the rest will follow.

“Essex has been the first and I want to say well done to Roger Hirst, to Stephen Kavanagh and to Adam Eckley for taking that step.

“We want to make sure we deliver the best service we possibly can, and the best way to do that is through collaboration.

“The opportunity was presented to them to make some financial savings and they agreed.

“Everyone knows that those savings must stay within Essex and they must be invested back into the front line services.”