This accessibility statement applies to the website ddfire.gov.uk
This website is run by County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service. We want as many people as possible to be able to use this website. For example, that means you should be able to:
- change colours, contrast levels and fonts
- zoom in up to 300% without the text spilling off the screen
- navigate most of the website using just a keyboard
- navigate most of the website using speech recognition software
- listen to most of the website using a screen reader (including the most recent versions of JAWS, NVDA and VoiceOver)
- We’ve also made the website text as simple as possible to understand.
AbilityNet has advice on making your device easier to use if you have a disability.
How accessible is this website
We know some parts of this website are not fully accessible:
- older and externally provided PDF documents are not fully accessible to screen reader software
- live video streams do not have captions
- some documents contain tables do not have row headers
- forms using third party technology are not fully compliant. There is no descriptor on the date picker and captcha. There is no label form control for tick boxes. There is no control over scaling, no access to set headings and no ‘skip’ available. These issues have been raised with the third party provider and they will be resolved over time.
Technical information about this website’s accessibility
County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service is committed to making its website accessible, in accordance with the Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018.
Compliance status
This website is partially compliant with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines version 2.2 AA standard, due to the non-compliances and exemptions listed below.
Non-compliance with the accessibility regulations
The content listed below is non-accessible for the following reasons.
Media content
- All efforts have been made to ensure images have text alternatives however some images may not, so people using a screen reader may not be able to access the information. In these instances, this would fail WCAG 2.2 level AA success criterion 1.1.1 (non-text content). We remain committed to identify any remaining issues during our 2026 internal website update process.
- Some of the videos provided by external sources do not contain subtitles. We will replace them if they are updated by those sources.
Documents
- We have papers that must be published under the Local Government Act 1972. We plan to either fix these or replace them with accessible HTML pages.
Disproportionate burden
Interactive tools and transactions
- Some of our interactive forms are difficult to navigate using a keyboard. For example, because some form controls are missing a ‘label’ tag. Our forms are built and hosted through third party software and ‘skinned’ to look like our website.
Documents
- Committee papers Content produced by the Service’s auditors, Mazars, appears in some of our Committee papers.
We’ve assessed the time and cost of fixing the above issues with accessing information, and with interactive tools and transactions. We believe that doing so now would be a disproportionate burden within the meaning of the accessibility regulations
Content that’s not within the scope of the accessibility regulations
Content published before 23 September 2018
The accessibility regulations do not require us to fix PDFs or other documents published before 23 September 2018 if they’re not essential to providing our services. For example, we do not plan to fix documents, PDFs, or videos provided by third parties. Any new PDFs or Word documents we publish will meet accessibility standards.
Live video
We do not plan to add captions to live video streams because live video is exempt from meeting the accessibility regulations.
Videos provided by external sources (third party)
Some of the videos provided by external sources do not contain subtitles. We will replace them if they are updated by those sources.
Feedback and contact information
If you need information on this website in a different format like accessible PDF, large print, easy read, audio recording or braille:
- email at governance@ddfire.gov.uk
- by calling 0345 305 8383 and ask for a member of our governance team
- or write to Governance, County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Belmont Business Park, Durham, DH1 1TW
We’ll consider your request and get back to you in seven days.
Reporting accessibility problems with this website
We’re always looking to improve the accessibility of this website. If you find any problems not listed on this page or think we’re not meeting accessibility requirements, contact us using the Comments, Compliments and Complaints form at www.ddfire.gov.uk/comments-compliments-and-complaints, by calling 0345 305 8383 and asking for a member of our governance team or emailing governance@ddfire.gov.uk
Contacting us by phone or visiting us in person
Our offices have audio induction loops, or if you contact us before your visit we can arrange a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
Find out how to contact us www.ddfire.gov.uk/comments-compliments-and-complaints
Preparation of this accessibility statement
This statement was first prepared in September 2020. We re-assess the code, design and content of a website, application or system for accessibility whenever it undergoes a major modification or every one to two years. We do this internally using a combination of automated and manual checking, and with any testing documentation the 3rd party supplier provides.
This statement was last reviewed on 18 February 2026.
Enforcement procedure
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is responsible for enforcing The Public Sector Bodies (Websites and Mobile Applications) (No. 2) Accessibility Regulations 2018 (the ‘accessibility regulations’). If you’re not happy with how we respond to your complaint, contact the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS).