Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service (LFRS) is proud to announce the successful launch of its new 999 call handling and mobilisation system. Following 16 months of intensive technical and physical work, the state-of-the-art system went live on Wednesday, 10 October, at 10:00. This marks a significant milestone in the Service's ongoing commitment to providing rapid and effective emergency response.

The new mobilisation system, supplied by Motorola Solutions, enhances LFRS's ability to swiftly and accurately handle emergency calls and dispatch resources across Leicester, Leicestershire, and Rutland. Just seven minutes after the system was activated, LFRS successfully managed its first 999 call under the new platform.

Chief Fire and Rescue Officer Callum Faint said: "This marks a significant milestone for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service. These systems are arguably the most critical to any emergency service, as even the smallest error could have significant consequences for our community. That's why it was vital to get this right. Our project team, working closely with Motorola Solutions, has delivered outstanding results within a very tight timeframe."

"Our Control Room is the backbone of our emergency response operations. The ability to gather critical information quickly and relay it to our teams on the ground is essential for safeguarding both the public and our crews. This new system ensures we can do that more efficiently and with greater accuracy."

"The switch has been a complete success so far and a positive step forward for us and our purpose of 'Safer People, Safer Places.' My sincere thanks to everyone involved and the solution-focused approach in reaching a great and successful outcome."

"When every second counts, the centralised control room for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service will enable greater operational efficiency and more effective emergency response," said Fergus Mayne, U.K. and Ireland country manager at Motorola Solutions. "Our technology connects people when they need it most, and we are proud to supply LFRS with a system that will support collaboration and strengthen safety across the communities it serves."

The new system improves LFRS's response efficiency, bolstering coordination and communication with partner agencies under the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability Principles (JESIP) framework. Its real-time data collection capabilities significantly enhance situational awareness for control room operators. Moreover, the system's VideoManager feature facilitates the secure storage and management of large volumes of data, enabling smoother collaboration between emergency services, particularly during high-demand periods when multiple incidents occur simultaneously across various locations.

The new system is a testament to LFRS's ongoing dedication to continuous improvement and innovation in emergency response capabilities.

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About the Service

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service provides emergency response, prevention and protection services from 20 stations across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland. Its headquarters is based in Birstall, Leicester.

During 2022/23, we attended a total of 9.440 emergency incidents, including 2.650 fires and 710 road traffic collisions. A total of 13,660 Home Safety Checks were completed and we fitted 4,767 smoke alarms. 238 schools were visited as part of the Service's schools programme, delivering fire and road safety education to 21,033 pupils.

The Service's prevention, education, enforcement and inspection programmes have resulted in significant reductions in the number of incidents attended.

Contact:

Corporate Communications

Direct: 0116 210 5756

Corporate.communications@leics-fire.gov.uk