A CONTROVERSIAL scheme that would see firefighters take over from police when it comes to responding to "calls for concern" has been approved by the local Fire Authority.

The move comes despite criticisms that firefighters could be called out to deal with jobs like suicides, and be diverted from actual firefighting incidents.

When Yorkshire Ambulance Service staff have concerns about an individual, but cannot access their property, the police are currently their main support. They are called to gain entry to the homes, often by knocking down doors or breaking locks.

At a meeting of West Yorkshire Fire Authority's executive yesterday, members agreed to go ahead with a pilot scheme that would see West Yorkshire Fire Service replace police as the main supporting agency.

A report proposing the pilot said it was due to austerity and pressures on the police. It said it was important the fire service was not liable for the damage caused to properties, and police would still be responsible for securing the houses after the incident is resolved.

Councillor Joanne Dodds (Lab, Great Horton) said: "I do have concerns about this. You have the ambulance service calling fire fighters, and then calling police to board up the houses. It seems a bit bitty does that."

Chief Fire Officer John Roberts said fire crews would still be able to be re-deployed while they were at such an incident. He added: "It will never be perfect, but this is about saving lives."

Councillor Jeanette Sunderland questioned whether firefighters might arrive on the scene, only to find that the person needs an ambulance, which they then have to wait for. She said: "Will we have three firefighters waiting around with a person waiting for an ambulance to arrive? Will people just be standing around when they could be at emergencies?"

Mr Roberts said: "Often the call will be made by a concerned member of the individual's family who can't contact them. Those people are probably not going to tell firefighters 'thanks, I have to be somewhere else now.'"

After the meeting, David Williams chairman of the Yorkshire branch of the Fire Brigade's Union, said: "There is the fear that, despite what has been said, the fire crews may have to do additional tasks like transport people to hospital.

"I don't agree that it is similar to what we are already doing. We might currently get three or four calls like this a year, now we could be getting 100 a month.

"We hear from the North Yorkshire pilot that some crews have been called out and have found suicide victims in the house.

"Other places are doing similar pilots, why don't we just let them do the work? There is no need for this pilot, we can just use the evidence from pilot schemes in other forces. I feel we don't need to be jumping into this."

He fears crews could be waiting at properties for hours for police to arrive to secure the house, preventing them from attending other jobs.

No details have been given for when the pilot will start.