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An independent review into allegations of racism and bullying at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service (GFRS) between 1991 and 2018 has concluded that the service was “institutionally racist”.
For the review, West Midlands Employers (WME) spoke with 40 current and previous staff members and analysed more than 4,500 documents.
The WME team uncovered distressing experiences and accounts of upsetting and unacceptable behaviour during the period covered by the report.
The review found that GFRS had been institutionally racist but, that the Service was not institutionally racist today. However, the review did recognise the continuing grapple with the legacy of its past and acknowledges there is still work to do.
In its conclusion, the review makes 14 recommendations, many of which the service had already identified as needing improvement, according to a statement on the Gloucestershire County Council website.
Among the recommendations are the need to acknowledge past harm, change the organisational narrative and improve awareness and access to mental health resources.
Chief Fire Office apologises for service’s past failings
Following the publication of the review, Mark Preece, Chief Fire Officer, GFRS, apologised for the service’s past failings and acknowledged there was still work to be done.
“I want to apologise to our firefighters and staff past and present that have been subjected to the horrendous acts of discrimination, or witnessed, whistle-blown and tried to support victims as best they could with little or no support.
“I fully accept the finding that the Service was institutionally racist between 1991 to 2018, and that coupled with a lack of action from those leading GFRS during this time made life unbearable for our Black and ethnic minority firefighters.
“As we grapple with this legacy, I must stress that in accepting the report and its findings I am not suggesting in any way that all past or serving firefighters and staff were or are racist but nor am I saying that racism, misogyny and bullying have been eradicated. There is still work to be done.”
Mark Preece, Chief Fire Officer, GFRS
Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union assistant general secretary, said: “Racism has no place in the fire service, or anywhere in our society. All firefighters must be able to go to work without fear of discrimination, harassment or abuse.”
For more information, read the full review on the Gloucestershire County Council website.
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