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The Advisory Panel set up in the wake of the publication of the Cultural Review of the London Fire Brigade is set to continue to operate well into 2027 as its work is extended once more to support, challenge and assure the Brigade’s transformation programme.
With an independent chair and members drawn from central and local government as well as from the inspectorate and representative bodies, the Panel was established in late 2023 and has met nine times since. The terms of reference describe it as a ‘critical friend’ and not a decision making body.
In March 2021, the former London Fire Commissioner, Andy Roe, initiated an independent review of the Brigade’s culture, following the death by suicide of Jaden Francois-Esprit, a trainee firefighter. The Culture Review carried out by Nazir Afzal was published in November 2022 and revealed an organisation riven with institutional racism and misogyny and poor and unfair treatment of marginalised groups.
The Panel was initially set up to work until November 2024 but was extended for a further 12 months. This second extension would see the Panel operating for up to four years under the leadership of Martin Forde KC.
A paper to the Commissioner’s Board earlier this month provided detail on the work of the Panel. It showed members visiting fire stations, training locations and the London Operations Centre. As well as visits, the Panel meetings have allowed members to scrutinise progress by Brigade staff against the Culture Transformation plan which sets out how the Brigade will improve against recommendations set out in its own Culture Review and those set out in inspection reports.
It notes that the Panel has: ‘provided valuable observations and feedback on the Brigade’s approach to dealing with misconduct and grievances, including commenting on the key performance indicators devised to monitor performance of the Professional Standards Unit.’
The Panel will continue to operate under the existing chair and terms of reference with a review due in summer 2026.
Read more – Trailblazing professional standards unit struggling under volume of complaints – report.
