Inspectors have uncovered "deeply troubling" evidence of bullying, harassment and discrimination in fire brigades, a report warns today.
Staff told of racist, sexist and homophobic comments and behaviour which had gone unchallenged or were dismissed as "banter", according to a report from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
Examples of incidents reported to watchdogs included a senior officer referring to a black colleague using the "n-word" and putting it down to "having a laugh", homophobic abuse found written on a firefighter's locker and men using women's toilets and women not feeling confident to challenge this.
