Region's fire service is now better prepared for terrorist attack, government inspectors say after criticism last year

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is now better equipped to deal with a terrorist attack, inspectors have said following criticism last year. Inspectors have removed a 'cause for concern' relating to the service.

In December, a report by a government inspector said the service remained unprepared to respond effectively to a terrorist attack, four years after the Arena bombing. Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said at the time: "While Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service does have its own specialist MTA (Marauding Terrorist Attack) response, we have concerns about its sustainability.

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"The agreement in place is short term, and at the time of our inspection it was due to run out. The service has made repeated attempts to resolve this issue locally.

"We are also concerned that the training of non-specialist firefighters for MTAs has been suspended. This could affect how firefighters work alongside other blue light responders. If they aren’t following the same procedures, public safety could be compromised."

At the inquiry into the bombing of Manchester Arena, GMFRS was severely criticised for its response on the night of the attack. Firefighters, including a team with specialist training for such an event, were held back from scene for two hours.

As reported in the Manchester Evening News in April, the region's firefighters were given a pay rise after agreeing to extra training to respond to terror attacks. The move ended a bitter dispute.

Now all firefighters in Greater Manchester and London have agreed to respond to Marauding Terrorist Attacks (MTA) after a ballot of