Firefighters will now be required to wear body cameras when they come into contact with the public, and will also take awareness classes.
Racist and misogynist behaviour, sexual harassment: London’s Fire and Rescue Service has been accused by an independent inquiry of a “toxic” environment that allowed abuse and bullying, with its leadership saying it will have “zero tolerance” for such in future phenomena.
London Fire Brigade (LFB) called for this inquiry last year, following the suicide of a 21-year-old firefighter who claimed he was being harassed by fellow firefighters because he was of Caribbean descent.
After collecting more than 2,000 testimonies from former and current members of the corps, investigators concluded that there was “institutional misogyny and racism,” Nazir Afzal, a former prosecutor and head of the investigation, whose conclusions will be released soon, said on Twitter. to the public.
The British media reported, for example, the case of a Muslim firefighter, in whose pockets some of his colleagues stuffed bacon and sausages. Others urinated on a woman’s helmet while male firefighters mocked a female colleague about her weight by mimicking the noise a truck makes. A black fireman found a noose in his closet.
“The report contains descriptions of shocking behavior and painful experiences experienced” by firefighters over the years, particularly women, minorities and members of the LGBTQI+ community, the LFB said in its statement.
“Discrimination, harassment and bullying have no place here and the Fire Service, starting today, will make it clear what behavior is unacceptable and what will have consequences,” said chief Andy Rowe, who wants “to restore trust between firefighters and with the communities we serve.”
Following the recommendations of the commission of inquiry, Rowe intends to implement a policy of “zero tolerance” by imposing sanctions. Firefighters will also be required to wear body cameras when in contact with the public and take awareness classes.
The London Fire Brigade is the largest in Britain, with 5,000 members. There are about 500 women and fewer than 500 minority firefighters.
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