The London Fire Brigade is “institutionally misogynist and racist” with a “toxic culture that allows bullying and abuse”, an impartial assessment has discovered.
One black firefighter had a noose put above his locker whereas a feminine firefighter stated she suggested feminine mates to not let male firefighters in the home to examine smoke alarms as a result of they “go through women’s drawers looking for underwear and sex toys”.
She stated the brink for bullying is so excessive “you would have to gouge someone’s eyes out to get sacked,” including: “Everything else is seen as banter.”
In one other incident, a Muslim had bacon and sausages put in his coat pockets and a terrorist hotline signal posted on his locker.
The assessment’s writer Nazir Afzal OBE, a former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, stated he and his workforce “found dangerous levels of ingrained prejudice against women and the barriers faced by people of colour spoke for themselves”.
They have been extra more likely to be topic to disciplinary motion, much less more likely to be promoted and largely unrepresented at senior ranges, and likewise steadily racially abused, he added.
There was additionally “clear evidence of racism, misogyny and bullying, which made it hard for many firefighters to do their job and forced others out of the Brigade”.
In his conclusion, Mr Afzal stated: “My review found evidence that supports a finding that LFB is institutionally misogynist and racist.
“We discovered harmful ranges of ingrained prejudice in opposition to girls and the obstacles confronted by folks of color spoke for themselves.
“Not only were they more likely to be subject to disciplinary action, less likely to be promoted and largely unrepresented at senior levels, but they were also frequently the target of racist abuse.
“We additionally noticed examples of how this was driving some folks of color out of the brigade and there was proof that proficient folks, dedicated to public service, have been being misplaced because of this.”
‘We did not find the same level of operational bigotry’ as Metropolitan Police
Mr Afzal said he wished to draw an important distinction with similar issues experienced by the Metropolitan Police.
“Where there was flagrant examples of law enforcement officials misusing energy and permitting prejudice to form their actions, we didn’t discover the identical degree of operational bigotry,” he said.
The report said the disadvantage and discrimination affecting staff did not translate into its operations or impact the way it prevents and responds to incidents.
Over a period of 10 months, Mr Nazir and his team heard the experiences of over 2,000 current and former staff and the public, including members of the Grenfell community.
The report, which makes 23 recommendations, was established after the suicide of firefighter Jaden Francois-Espirit. His family were concerned he had been bullied because of his race, the report said.
‘A very sobering day’
London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe said: “Today is a really sobering day. There is not any place for discrimination, harassment and bullying within the Brigade and from immediately will probably be utterly clear to all employees what behaviour is not acceptable and what the results shall be.
“I am deeply sorry for the harm that has been caused. I will be fully accountable for improving our culture.”
Source: information.sky.com”