Allegations of bullying, harassment and discrimination have been reported in each hearth and rescue service in England, a report has discovered.
Examples included two male firefighters joking with a feminine colleague that they had been “going to rape her,” and the three of them performing out the rape collectively. On one other event a senior officer referred to a black colleague utilizing the n-word.
Inspectors discovered examples of racist, homophobic and misogynistic behaviour in 1 / 4 of providers in England, with the behaviour usually excused as “banter.”
The sector is described as a “boys club,” and other people stated they felt uncomfortable about reporting dangerous behaviour for concern of reprisals. The hearth inspectorate warned that latest headlines about misconduct could also be simply the tip of the iceberg.
Roy Wilsher, of His Majesty’s Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services, stated on misconduct instances over the previous 12 months: “More than half of those concerned inappropriate behaviour, such as bullying and harassment, associated with a protected characteristic. This is shocking enough but I am not confident that this is even the whole picture.”
“Our findings shine a light on deeply troubling bullying and harassment in fire and rescue services across the country – and I fear this could be just the tip of the iceberg.
“I am unable to assure there is no predators or racists, homophobes or sexists throughout the Fire Rescue Service. But what I can assure that if our suggestions are carried out, issues will enhance,” he told Sky News.
The report calls for background checks on all firefighters and staff, and new misconduct standards to be introduced. This is to include a national barred list. The sector needs to “get a grip” on how it handles misconduct, the inspector said, adding it “can’t wait one other day earlier than it acts.”
‘I did get pressured into sleeping with a colleague’
Sky News spoke to a feminine firefighter who stated she was pressured into intercourse by a male colleague.
“I haven’t discussed it before, but there was a time after an evening out that I did get pressured into sleeping with a colleague when I didn’t want to. If I was sober I would never have consented to it,” she informed Sky News.
“After that, my mental health was really bad. I regretted it so much that I let myself get that drunk – I didn’t expect to get upset… last year I actually made an attempt to take my own life because of how he made me feel.”
The firefighter stated she was repeatedly despatched specific images from male colleagues.
“I try and avoid people that have sent me pictures like that now. And I try and act as normal as possible… but it’s always at the back of my mind.”
One of the pictures reveals a male firefighter sitting on a rest room displaying his non-public components. He is carrying a navy blue t-shirt that seems to be his uniform.
Sky News has seen textual content message exchanges between feminine colleagues which paint a disturbing image of their experiences.
One reads: “A lot of sexual favours asked for. A female colleague was pinned in the corner by more than one firefighter and demanded sexual favours. Another was sexually assaulted by a colleague as he walked past. Then he took photos of her changing.
The Home Office called the findings in the report “deeply regarding” and promised to deal with dangerous tradition throughout the sector.
Source: information.sky.com”