Operational Preparedness, Response, and Resilience Committee
The work of the committee
The Operational Preparedness Response and Resilience (OPRR) committee aims to promote and lead the highest standards of operational performance in fire and rescue services.
Representatives from English fire and rescue service regions and the devolved administrations meet quarterly to discuss issues affecting the service as a whole and strategic areas of work. Representatives from organisations such as the National Police Chiefs’ Council, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the Home Office, CFRA Wales and HMI Scotland will also liaise with this committee and its lead officers.
The committee will:
Approve Operational and Fire Control Guidance and associated training specifications for UK fire and rescue services, to improve efficiency collaboration and drive operational research and development. Operational and Fire Control Guidance develops safe systems of work for all fire and rescue service staff.
OPRR work with organisations such as the Environment Agency and the Health and Safety Executive and other stakeholders to lead the UK fire and rescue service and to further improve interoperability with other emergency services and Category 1 and 2 responders.
OPRR provide professional advice to UK governments on National Resilience issues, work with governments and partners to identify and close any gaps between the National Risk Assessment and local Community Risk Management Plans, lead continuous improvement of National Coordination and Advisory Framework (NCAF) for major incidents, and support the embedding of the Joint Emergency Services Interoperability (JESIP) principles into fire and rescue service Operational Doctrine and day to day business
OPRR provide strategic direction in relation to call handling, mobilising and other relevant control room functions as well as technical communications infrastructure to support all aspects of fire and rescue service operations
Committee Chair
John Roberts is Chief Fire Officer for West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, with more 25 years’ experience in the Fire and Rescue Service.
John joined Merseyside Fire Brigade as a Firefighter in 1997 and progressed through the ranks working operationally as a Leading Firefighter, Sub Officer and Station officer. In 2006 John was promoted to Station Commander with responsibility for several fire stations in Liverpool.
In 2008 John was seconded to the Department of Communities and Local Government, working within the Fire and Resilience Directorate.
John joined South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue in 2009 and worked in a variety of roles including District Commander for Sheffield and Barnsley, before being promoted to Area Commander, Assistant Chief Fire Officer and finally Deputy Chief Fire Officer.
John joined the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service on promotion to Chief Fire Officer in 2017. In addition to his Chief Officer role in West Yorkshire, John fulfils several national roles within the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) including: Chair of the Operational Effectiveness group, Fires in Tall Buildings Group Chair, and National Resilience Command and Control lead officer.
Throughout his Fire Service career, John has enjoyed specialist operational roles as a Hazardous Materials & Environmental Protection Officer, Fire Investigation Officer, and Swift Water Rescue Technician.
