The government is planning to outsource control of emergency call centres to the private sector. The move is being spearheaded by Capita who are to supply a modernized 999 control system in a 10 year contract. The deal is aimed to save over £5million during the lifetime of the contract.

The emergency call centre is run nationally by BT and Cable and Wireless, the London brigade contact will see around 120 current staff, including office support staff and control officers move to Capita.

Councillor Brian Norman, chairman of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, said: “Outsourcing the Brigade's 999 control centre will mean people in the capital benefit from a new, high-tech system that will mobilise our firefighters to incidents even more quickly and this will be done at less cost."