Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service has set aside more than £30,000 to invest in software to help it protect against “misuse of social media”.

The organisation currently runs a total of 16 Facebook pages and three Twitter accounts. It predicts that its social media presence may ultimately grow to a cumulatively total of 25 accounts across various sites. 

The service is looking to acquire technology that will enable staff members to have their own individual logins for its various accounts, as part of a system that permits differing permission levels, depending on job function and seniority.

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Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “In order to effectively manage any risks associated with the misuse of social media, [the service] requires a social-media-management tool that can provide each user of social media with their own unique login, which can have access and privileges set to meet the requirements of an individual's role.”

The organisation has issued a contract notice looking for a provider of such a tool. Bids from potential suppliers are invited until 2 February, with a three-year contract due to start on 1 April. The worth of the deal over its lifespan is estimated at between £27,000 and £33,000.