Report highlights widespread bullying and abuse in fire services
A recent report by the His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has found that staff at a quarter of fire and rescue services in England have reported alleged racist, homophobic, and misogynistic behaviour within their ranks over the past five years.
The report found bullying allegations in all services, suggesting that this could be just “the tip of the iceberg.”
Examples of reported cases include male firefighters making rape threats to colleagues and a senior officer using racial slurs.
The watchdog’s Roy Wilsher has called for changes to recruitment procedures and better systems to help staff raise concerns.
The report also found that the fire service is the least ethnically diverse workforce in the public sector and has made the least progress in achieving diversity.
The report makes 35 recommendations, including appropriate background checks on all firefighters and staff and the introduction of new misconduct standards.
Matt Wrack, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union (FBU), welcomed the report’s acknowledgment of “the scale of the problem” and promised the union would “take a leading role” in transforming its culture.
The government department responsible for fire and rescue services described the findings as “deeply concerning” and promised to address the issues alongside the Inspectorate and fire chiefs.
Last week, a report by Baroness Louise Casey called the Metropolitan Police, the UK’s biggest police force, institutionally racist, misogynistic and homophobic – and said a “boys’ club” culture was rife.