London’s Fire Commissioner Sir Ken Knight has been appointed as the government’s new Chief Fire and Rescue Adviser. In his new post, Sir Ken will be responsible for advising ministers and senior civil servants on the structure, organisation and performance of fire and rescue services.
Sir Ken and his unit will also advise ministers, the Cabinet Office and local government during a major emergency and liaise with government, local authorities, professional bodies and other interested organisations on fire, rescue and resilience matters.
Sir Ken heads the UK’s largest fire and rescue service and one of the largest in the world. He is responsible for over 7,000 staff, including nearly 6,000 operational firefighters based at 112 fire stations across the 620 square miles of the capital. Last year the London Fire Brigade attended some 160, 000 emergency incidents and nowhere was this more apparent than on 7 July 2005, when the Brigade deployed over 40 fire engines and 200 firefighters to the four explosions in central London.
Under Sir Ken’s leadership London Fire Brigade has seen the lowest number of fire calls and the lowest number of serious deliberate fire per 10,000 population compared to England’s other major cities. In the past five years there has been a 20 per cent reduction in accidental deaths from fire and a 23 per cent reduction in deaths from non-accidental fires in the home. Hoax calls have reduced by 30 per cent - 10 per cent better than the target set by government.
Sir Ken Knight, London Fire Commissioner said: "I feel extremely privileged to have been London Fire Commissioner for four years during which time we have faced great challenge and change. I remain extremely proud of the work of London Fire Brigade and the dedicated staff that work within it, who are also highly respected by the community. Whilst it is with great sadness that I will be leaving I look forward to the challenge of my new role."
Val Shawcross, Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority said: “While I am sorry to be losing Sir Ken as London Fire Brigade Commissioner I am pleased that he will now be leading on fire and rescue policy from a national perspective and look forward to the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority working with him and his new office.
“Sir Ken has led the London Fire Brigade through a major improvement programme during the four years he has been Commissioner, ensuring that the performance and high standards of the London Fire Brigade are second to none. I would like to thank him for his leadership and vision, and wish him every success in his new role as Chief Fire and Rescue Officer. ”
Note to editors:
Born in Croydon, Sir Ken started his career over forty years ago as a firefighter in Surrey. He worked his way up the ranks to become Assistant Chief Officer in London, Deputy Chief Officer of Devon and the Chief Fire Officer of Dorset and West Midlands Fire Services, returning to London in July 2003 to take up his current appointment as London’s Fire Commissioner.
Sir Ken has been a key player as the UK fire and rescue service for many years leading the service through significant change in the way it operates, in partnership with a range of key stakeholders such as national and local government, trades unions and the fire industry.
In addition to his day-to-day role, Sir Ken is the principal adviser on fire and rescue service matters to the Local Government Association and is also a board member of the UK Chief Fire Officers Association.
Sir Ken’s outstanding contribution to the fire and rescue service was recognised in June of this year when he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours. Previously he was awarded the Queens Fire Service Medal for distinguished service (1991), a CBE
(2001) and the Order of St John in 2005. Sir Ken has also been appointed one of Her Majesty’s Deputy Lieutenants of Greater London.
Earlier this year, Sir Ken was named as the United States Metropolitan Fire Chief of the Year, the first recipient outside of the United States to be recognised in this way.
Members of the media can obtain further information from the press office on:
telephone number: 020 8536 5922
email: press@london-fire.gov.uk
