The Centre for Research in Emergency Services & Training (CREST) was launched on the 15th February 2012 as part of Liverpool Hope University.  Emergency services such as Fire and Rescue, Police, and the Ambulance service as well as more specialised services such as the Coastguard, Air-Sea or Mountain Rescue are all involved in very important work. CREST seeks to facilitate the growing academic and research interest in these vital services and further contribute to the quality of research surrounding the emergency services.

CREST will be a unique institution in the North West of England which will host and/or endorse research projects, events, networks, and affiliations across the emergency services management nationally in the UK and abroad. The mission of CREST is providing a multi-disciplinary perspective in the emergency services research and bridging the theoretical and practical aspects of the profession. Key objectives of CREST include:

• Providing a credible source of knowledge and applied research in the emergency services
• Promote the vocation of the emergency services
• Develop and deliver training programmes for government agencies, host organisations, academics and wider community
• Provide a platform that promotes research-based solutions to practical issues of emergency management
• Develop professional development courses relevant to the sector with a progression route to a masters qualification
• Develop a professional doctoral programme in emergency services management

Ambulance, police and fire chiefs all spoke of the importance of joined up working at the launch of the Centre for Research in Emergency Services and Training in Liverpool on the morning of the launch.

Dr Paresh Wankhade said: “CREST will be a unique institution in the North West of England for blue light services. We hope that be providing a platform for interaction and sharing of ideas for the emergency services, we can build on an already fantastic service."

NWAS Director of Resilience Paul Kudray was representing the Ambulance Service and said: "We are committed to working with the other emergency services to provide the best possible service for our community.
The launch of CREST is a fantastic addition to our efforts to collaborate together effectively and share best practice. I look forward to exploring the ways in which we can work together in the future."

Chief Constable Jon Murphy from Merseyside Police and Steve McGuirk, Chief Fire Officer of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, joined Director Kudray in praising the potential benefits of CREST - for more on the Police and Fire Service's views visit www.policingtoday.co.uk and www.fire-magazine.co.uk

For further information please visit the CREST website.