Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service placed under supervision

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service must produce an improvement plan while under enhanced supervision

A fire service has been placed under special supervision after a watchdog expressed concerns.

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service (BFRS) is under an "enhanced level of monitoring" from Wednesday.

Inspectors said it had failed to identify those most at risk from fire, ensure teams prioritise work according to risk and improve equality.

The fire service, now headed by Louise Harrison, has been contacted for comment.

Ms Harrison's appointment came after His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) told the service to make "urgent improvements", saying it relied too heavily on other counties.

The service is now under a stage of monitoring called "Engage", a higher level of assessment than the routine "Scan" monitoring that all fire and rescue services are under.

Louise Harrison, pictured with Simon Rouse, chairman of Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes Fire Authority, has worked in policing for 31 years

The inspectorate said it doubted BFRS's "capacity and capability" to make the required improvements.

Inspector Roy Wilsher said Engage was used when "a service is not responding to our concerns, or if it is not managing, mitigating or eradicating these concerns".

The service must now produce an improvement plan meet regularly with our inspectors.

"We will work closely with the service to monitor its progress against these important and necessary changes," added Mr Wilsher.