FEWER firefighters are keeping the people of Shropshire safe than a decade ago, figures suggest.
Home Office and NHS Digital figures show the equivalent of 4,885 full-time emergency workers were employed by organisations covering Shropshire this year – eight per cent more than in 2011.
But the Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service lost 92 FTE firefighters in that time, with 453 in post as of the end of March.
Around 9,500 firefighters were lost across England over the same period – a 23 per cent drop – with every fire and rescue service experiencing reductions.
While the number of incidents attended overall has steadily been declining nationally, the response time to fires has increased.
The Fire Brigades Union, which represents firefighters, said anyone working in the public sector frontline would agree that “austerity is not over”.
Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said the sector had been calling for new funding for years.
He added: “For fire and rescue, every pound cut from our budget means a greater likelihood of smaller crew numbers, fire stations shutting, and the loss of resources such as fire engines.
“In turn this all means longer response times to incidents, and a greater risk to lives, property, heritage and the environment.”
The government said it had “consistently” given emergency services the resources they need to keep people safe.
A spokesman added: “We have recruited more than half of the promised 20,000 additional police officers, invested £2.3 billion this year to support the work of firefighters and NHS England have given ambulance trusts an extra £55 million to boost staff numbers ahead of winter.”
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