A joint team which keeps police officers and firefighters on the road has picked up a major national award- just over a year after work started to bring their activity closer together.

South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue’s fleet management team were named ‘fleet of the year’ at a ceremony in London in recognition of the collaborative work they’re now leading.

The team jointly manages nearly 1,000 vehicles from fire engines to police cars.

Specific pieces of work the team has jointly undertaken include fire service mechanics repairing police horseboxes and advising on the purchase of replacement vehicles.

Police HGV drivers also now undergo driver training and certification at the fire service’s Handsworth training centre.

Police auto electricians have worked to repair fire appliances, better systems are being put in place to monitor fuel and vehicle maintenance and agreements are in place which mean police and fire officers can share pool vehicles during times of especially high operational demand.

Sarah Gilding, who was appointed Head of Joint Vehicle Fleet Management last year, said: “Staff at both organisations are already rightly proud of the role they play in supporting the activity of frontline firefighters and police officers. They are skilled and dedicated professionals who’ve really grasped the opportunities that working more closely together might bring. This is award is deserved recognition for their efforts.”

The successful collaborative programme between South Yorkshire Police and South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue was launched in early 2017, to build on existing activities undertaken in collaboration between both organisations. The programme has already led to the creation of a Joint Police and Fire Station in Maltby, Rotherham, the development of a Joint Community Safety Department and the appointment of a Head of Joint Estates and Facilities Management.

Other, long standing collaborations include Lifewise, which is an interactive safety centre in Hellaby, Rotherham which has been jointly run by the police and fire services since 2011 to deliver education packages to more than 20,000 local people every year, including nearly every Year 6 pupil in South Yorkshire.

A jointly delivered Princes Trust Team Programme, which has helped to transform the lives of more than 200 young people in three years