HAMPSHIRE'S Police and Crime Commissioner has not ruled out a takeover of responsibility for the Hampshire fire service.

This is one of the issues that could be considered for emergency services across the country under new legislation designed to get police and fire services working closer together.

It was the focus of a visit yesterday by a senior Government minister to Hampshire's police and fire headquarters in Eastleigh to see how collaboration between the two emergency services worked on the ground.

Minister for Policing, Fire, Criminal Justice and Victims Mike Penning praised the innovative approach in Hampshire, one of only two forces in the country with a joint headquarters, which he said would allow services to find savings but also be more effective.

Around 100 police staff moved into the fire headquarters, in Leigh Road, in November, which is now police's strategic headquarters, in a move expected to save both forces about £600,000 a year by sharing overheads.

The visit follows an announcement by Government about new legislation it is bringing forward under which Police and Crime Commissioners would be able to make the case for taking responsibility for their local fire and rescue service.

It means Police and Crime Commissioners could potentially create a single employer for both police and fire personnel.

It would also mean fire and police have a duty to work together.

Police and Crime Commissioner Simon Hayes said the two forces would be looking at further collaboration in future, but said the legislation was designed to bring other forces into line with what had already been achieved in Hampshire.

But he did not rule out the idea of a Police and Crime Commissioner overseeing both services.

"We will move forward and try to get the best outcome of the opportunities that the Government has given for us to work together," he added.

Deputy Chief Officer for Hampshire Neil Odin said although there were no plans at this stage to merge responsibility for police and fire under the Police and Crime Commissioner he could not rule it out.

He said collaboration between the two forces was already strong, sharing back staff and buildings, so there was no reason to do this because of the progress already made in Hampshire, but said he was not concerned by the prospect.

Mr Penning said as an ex-firefighter he had seen where efficiencies could be made, with one idea a joint call centre.

"The key about this is saving someone's life, saving their property, that's the most important thing and that's what collaboration will bring," he added.

He said that the Police and Crime Commissioners had proved a success despite the doubters and that chief executives of companies were often not experts in the field.

"They would be in administrative charge - not telling them how to fight fires or what crimes should be solved, but having someone directly elected by the community to represent their views within the emergency services," he said.