The Fire Brigade’s Union has branded the plan to amalgamate the role of Police and Crime Commissioner and Fire Commissioner in Essex as “reckless.”

This comes after Essex PCC, Roger Hirst, has also taken on the role of Fire Commissioner, rendering the Essex Fire Authority defunct.

The FBU has argued that the decision, approved by Home Secretary Amber Rudd, will harm the independence of the Fire Service as well as damage their links with the local community.

Alan Chinn-Shaw, secretary of the FBU in Essex, said: “The fire and rescue service holds a special position within our community, having established good relations and high levels of trust with the public.

“If the public perception of the fire service begins to change and we are seen to have close links with the police force, it will make the work of firefighters a lot more difficult.

“This has already been seen in Essex where our links to the local community have been damaged by our attendance at the evictions of the Crays Hill travellers’ site.”

“The neutrality of the fire service means we can gain access to areas of society where the attendance of police officers has not always been so welcome.

“It is vital that the fire service and police force maintain distinct and separate identities.”

Mr Hirst, responded to these claims, saying: “We have been working closely with the FBU in the lead up to this announcement. Both services will stay separate. A fire-fighter will remain a fire-fighter and a police constable will remain a police constable. I will maintain an independent fire service in the same way that I have maintained independence for the police.

“The people of Essex deserve to have the best possible emergency services. By bringing together the governance of the Essex Police and Essex County Fire and Rescue Service we can support closer working and make investment decisions that will bring even bigger benefits in the future.

“By ensuring a more joined-up response to incidents, providing crime and fire prevention advice, creating community safety hubs, and sharing buildings we can improve how we work and generate significant savings which can then be reinvested back into front line services.

“Essex has always been an innovative and forward-thinking county as shown by the support we have received for this proposal. Together we can do more to improve the service we give to the public and help keep people safe.”

MPs in Essex have praised the move, which is predicted to save £23 million in the county.

James Duddridge, MP for Rochford and Southend East, said: “I welcome the news that the Home Secretary has approved The Essex Police and Crime Commissioner Roger Hirst’s business case to take on the responsibility for Essex Fire and Rescue Service.

“Having worked with Roger Hirst in his capacity as Police Crime Commissioner I am confident that he will be an asset to Essex Fire and Rescue Service and I’m really looking forward to seeing the benefits this will bring to the county.”

Rebecca Harris, MP for Castle Point, said: “I am really pleased that Essex’s Police and Crime Commissioner is the first in the country to take on governance of the Fire Service.

“This is something I have been calling for several years now and I am sure that Roger Hirst will be a great success in the role.

“It means more public accountability of the Fire Service as well as being good news for tax payers across Essex.”

Mr Hirst is due to take up his new role in October.