Fire chiefs in the North East will launch their own internal review after a “very disturbing” report that revealed racism, misogyny, bullying and prejudice at the London Fire Brigade.
Bosses at the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service confirmed on Monday that they are closely examining the damning findings of the independent culture review of London Fire Brigade (LFB), which branded it "institutionally misogynist and racist". The investigation, set up by the London Fire Commissioner after a trainee firefighter took his own life in 2020, uncovered incidents including a black firefighter having a mock noose put above his locker and women being groped.
Sunderland councillor Phil Tye, chair of the Tyne and Wear Fire Authority, said that he had never heard of any such issues here on his visits to fire stations. But he told colleagues that local service bosses will consider each of the 23 recommendations made in the London report “with a view to planning in potential actions we want to take to ensure we continue to focus on strengthening inclusivity”.
