![](https://emergencyservicestimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/ESS-Button-resized.png")
A third investigation into the death in 2020 of trainee firefighter Jaden Francois-Esprit has concluded that there was no evidence he was bullied or harassed by colleagues at his fire station because of his age, sex or race. London Fire Commissioner Andy Roe told London politicians that he accepted the findings, adding that London Fire Brigade had let Jaden down.
This report is separate to the cultural review published in November 2022 and focuses on whether Jaden had been bullied, harassed or discriminated against by individuals in the Brigade. It is the culmination of a year long investigation by independent company, CMP Solutions, based on evidence from 40 witnesses, 100s of documents and cross references to existing reports including the coroner’s report.
“The report finds there is no evidence of direct discrimination, bullying or harassment against Jaden by his colleagues at Wembley fire station because of his age, his race or his disability through dyslexia or mental health.”
Andy Roe speaking of the conclusions set out in the independent report into the death of Jaden Francois-Esprit.
None of the allegations against those were complained about were upheld. The Commissioner said, “It is my personal view that we, as an organisation, let Jaden down.” He said the Brigade failed him because of “poor processes, the leadership culture as well as organisational processes that did not work.”
The Commissioner criticised the “formulaic approach” taken by the Brigade to responding to the needs of a new recruit, saying that his neurodiversity was not supported, and that it was clear that “common sense was not applied.” He revealed that Jaden had asked four times to be transferred from his posting at Wembley fire station and was told – wrongly according to the Commissioner – that trainees could not move station.
“I have to recognise that this will be a very, very difficult day for Jaden’s family. They may well not welcome the findings of the report.”
The summary report will be made public, as the Commissioner stressed the need for the Brigade to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and show that changes are being made as a result of what it has learned from Jaden’s death.
The Commissioner told London politicians that the Brigade continues to deal with “very poor examples of behaviour” and continues to “exit” people from the organisation.
To read similar articles, check out our Leadership channel.
For more background, you can read this report from Emergency Services Times in December 2023, One year on from the London Fire Brigade culture review, what have we learned?
