Andy Roe has led London Fire Brigade for five years, reports Noah Vickers, Local Democracy Reporter
Andy Roe (credit London Fire Brigade)
London fire commissioner Andy Roe has announced he will soon retire after five years in the role.
City Hall has begun a formal process to identify and appoint a successor, with the commissioner’s last day in office yet to be confirmed.
“It has been an honour and a privilege to lead London Fire Brigade (LFB),” said Roe. “When I became commissioner, I inherited a service suffering from decades of under investment.
“Over the past five years, supported by the mayor of London, I have been able to lead significant change and improvement in the organisation – including the way we respond to emergencies, and in our culture.
“Our people are now better trained and equipped for their mission to serve and protect London.”
Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan said: “Andy Roe has done an outstanding job as commissioner, and it has been a privilege to work with him to drive the transformation of LFB.
“Under Andy’s leadership, LFB has made significant progress in improving its performance and culture to rebuild the trust and confidence of Londoners.
“The brigade is responding to emergencies faster, is now rated as outstanding in how it responds to major and multi-agency incidents, and has fulfilled all the Phase One Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommendations.
“Supported by record investment from City Hall, the commissioner has delivered vital new equipment, improved training and better ways of working, and has taken a zero-tolerance approach to racism, misogyny, and homophobia in the service.
“Andy has set out a clear path for the Brigade to build on the progress he’s made, and I want to thank him for his decades of public service working to make London safer for everyone. I wish him a happy retirement.”
Hina Bokhari, chair of the London Assembly’s fire committee, also paid tribute to Mr Roe, saying: “Andy has given dedicated service to London over many years. His leadership was vital throughout an undoubtedly challenging period for the LFB – implementing the recommendations of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry and keeping Londoners safe throughout the pandemic.
“The commissioner has regularly and constructively engaged with the assembly’s scrutiny work and has always understood the need for openness and transparency in response to the difficult questions we have asked about his efforts to improve the LFB’s culture.
“With the increasing pressures caused by climate change, the rising cases of lithium-ion battery fires, and the challenges of adapting to new building safety regulations, the safety of our city must remain our highest priority.
“The committee looks forward to working with the commissioner’s successor to ensure that the LFB’s culture continues to improve, and to help them deliver a modern and effective fire service for the capital.”
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