Emergency control system will miss Olympics

 

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By Matthew Sparkes

Posted on 22 Jun 2009 at 14:05

A £1.4 billion project to upgrade the emergency services response system is running behind schedule and over budget, warns the Fire Brigade's Union (FBU).

The system was intended to be operational a year before the 2012 Olympics, bedded-in and ready to respond to disasters.

However, a document leaked to The Observer reveals that it may miss the Olympics altogether.

The FiReControl system is built around nine regional centres, combining many existing smaller bases. However, these regional centres are still empty and running up huge rental costs while the old system continues on as before. The system was initially intended to be completed by 2007, but targets have crept back by several years.

"The project is a scandalous waste of public money and more delays will make it worse," says Matt Wrack, general secretary of the FBU. "This is at a time when fire brigades are looking at major cuts because of a lack of cash."

"Taxpayers are propping up another failing IT project because the Government is too embarrassed to admit how bad things have become. If they want to save money they should shut this project down before it gets worse."

When complete, FiReControl will monitor all emergency vehicles by GPS, helping controllers make the best use of available resources.