Police and Crime Commissioner Kim McGuinness
Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) Kim McGuinness told councillors this week that a government review could see her take on responsibility for fire and rescue services on top of her job overseeing the police force.
The move could see the Labour PCC put in charge of the two fire services on her patch – Tyne and Wear, plus Northumberland.
A handful of PCCs in England already have fire services included in their portfolios and the government will hold a review on whether to mandate the transfer of fire and rescue authority functions to all of them.