Retained Duty System

Firefighters have one of the most respected jobs in the community. Retained Duty System (RDS) firefighters, (firefighters who respond to calls on a need-only basis - and are often fully employed in other occupations) are trained to deal with the same range of situations and incidents as their wholetime counterparts. These include fires, of course, road traffic accidents, dealing with hazardous materials and floods, and protecting the community through fire safety work.

RDS personnel are a vital part of today's Fire and Rescue Service. They provide an efficient, effective service that gives emergency cover to more than 90 per cent of the UK. The 14,000 firefighters who make up the retained fire service in England and Wales are generally located in rural communities, small towns and villages.

A Review of the Retained Duty System Recruitment and Retention Challenges

On 15 December 2003, Communities and Local Government (then ODPM) announced the establishment of a review to examine retained duty system issues in England and Wales in recognition of the long-term recruitment and retention challenges facing the fire and rescue service in this area. As a consequence, a stakeholder group, the Retained Review Team (RRT), was established in January 2004 to take forward the review.

Download the report by clicking on the link below.