Living on the edge: housing London's blue light emergency services

London Chamber of Commerce and Industry -
This report reveals that more than half of London's emergency service workers live outside London, raising concerns about London's preparedness to respond to major incidents. The report found that high housing costs mean that a total of 54 per cent of frontline 'Blue light' police, fire and paramedic staff now live outside London and have to commute into the capital. Workers interviewed for the report said lengthy travel times and inevitable travel delays, added to the stress and strain of shift working - and could impact on the emergency services' response. The report makes six recommendations to the Mayor from changing planning guidelines to providing rental deposit loans to the Mayor becoming the landlord for emergency services housing.

• Report
• London Chamber of Commerce and Industry - press release