Fire services get 50% less than police to cover tax rises

Most fire services in England are facing a shortfall in funding after the government failed to give them the same level of compensation for tax increases as the police.

The government is giving police forces an extra £230m which it says will fully cover the cost of the rise in employers' National Insurance contributions (Nics) which came into force last week.

Fire services face a similar rise in their wages bill – but the 31 that are directly funded by the government will only get top-up funds that cover 50% of the increase on average, according to BBC research.

One fire service said the 50% shortfall was the same cost as "a fully-staffed fire engine".