Medway Labour and Co-operative Group pay tribute to emergency services personnel on Emergency Services Day 2019.

Cllr Vince Maple, Medway Labour & Co-operative Leader said, ‘It’s important that we take this opportunity to pay tribute to our incredibly hardworking Police, Ambulance Service, and Fire Service personnel who selflessly risk their safety and their lives to be there when we need them most.

‘These men and women run towards danger, not from it; so if you see any emergency services personnel today be sure to stop and thank them for their hard work and dedication.’

Cllr Teresa Murray, Medway Labour & Co-operative Deputy Leader said, ‘On behalf of the Labour & Co-operative Group I would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to all of the emergency services in Medway.

‘It’s important to remember that many of these individuals – such as Special Constables, Retained Firefighters, NHS Community Responders, St John Ambulance, RNLI, Search and Rescue and Coastguard – undertake this lifesaving work, putting themselves in situations others wouldn’t dream of, on a completely voluntary basis.

‘Services such as the RNLI receive no government funding, and the Fire Brigades Union recently revealed that there are 462 fewer firefighters in Kent compared to nine years ago due to “chronic underfunding” from the Government. It’s not right that the life-saving work of emergency services goes largely unrecognised by the government – the importance of their work should be reflected in their pay.’

Find out more about Emergency Services Day