The new Combined Control Room for the Ambulance, Fire and Rescue Service and Police is one of the first changes brought forward following the creation of the new Justice and Home Affairs department.

The unit will be based at Police Headquarters and will bring together 30 staff from the separate control rooms based at Rouge Bouillon and Police HQ. They will be able to deal with emergency calls from the single combined control room as well as to share resources.

Constable Len Norman, the Home Affairs Minister, said the Combined Control Room, which should be operational from the end of January, was an important step towards “a modern, effective, efficient and integrated ‘blue lights’ and emergency response service, which works together and responds to the needs of our community.”

He added: “This collaboration forms part of our objectives as we continue to establish our new Justice and Home Affairs department, which aims to develop an integrated criminal, civil and administrative justice system focused on prevention, early intervention and collaboration.”