Description
Inspectors found evidence of bullying, harassment and discrimination in fire and rescue services across the country. Humiliating new recruits, playing rape, waiting for women to make tea and thinking that using racist language is just 'laughing' are some examples of unacceptable behavior in the English fire and relief service. The "deeply disturbing" findings "shocked and horrified" Her Majesty's Fire and Rescue Services Inspector Roy Wilsher, who said the sector "needs to be brought into the 21st century."
The values and culture report from England's 44 Fire and Rescue Services (FRS) documents racist, sexist and homophobic comments and behavior that went unchallenged or were dismissed as 'jokes'.
So people lie and stick together in the pack mentality, even though they know it's wrong, because they're afraid of being ostracized.
An example given to inspectors includes a firefighter who reported a superior officer for a racist comment and felt his version of events was called into question.
He was told that the alleged assailant "would not behave this way" and the superior officer then threatened to "make his life hell," according to the report.
Detectives were told a high-ranking officer referred to a black colleague using the 'N-word' and shortened it to 'have fun,' they found homophobic abuse written on a firefighter's locker and men using the bathroom, women and women who did not feel safe challenging this. .
Another example was an incident where two firefighters joked with a female firefighter that they were "going to rape her" and the three faked the rape together.
The report points to a perception among staff that women are appointed based on their gender rather than merit.
Several people expressed this view, with individual experiences described using inappropriate language, including "if you menstruate or have a vagina, you're more likely to get the job" and "you have to be a woman to be successful."
Inspectors were told that staff were unwilling to work in specific areas of the service due to misbehavior and humiliation of staff during training sessions if they made mistakes.
If your face doesn't fit you, you won't get in
They also heard that staff were reluctant to speak up or challenge inappropriate behavior because they believed it would affect their outlook, have negative consequences for them, or lead to a "negative mark" against their name and tell them it would be "a career issue." ". suicide” to do so.
In one room, inspectors overheard station managers making off-the-cuff comments and inappropriate jokes about female and gay staff.
Female staff were expected to make the tea, and bullying from new recruits forced a serving firefighter to change jobs.
In another department, staff said the culture in general was "toxic" and behaviors on watches were "in herd."
Staff told inspectors that on the watches, people did not question racial incompatibility.
"So people lie and stick together in the pack mentality, even though they know it's wrong, because they're afraid of being ostracized," according to a staffer quoted in the report.
The inspectors also found cases where new recruits joined the service with a positive attitude and no apparent disposition to certain behaviors, but quickly felt the need to assimilate into the mainstream culture in order to "fit in."
In several departments, the inspectors found a worrying pattern of staff not voicing their concerns if they felt they were not part of an 'old boys' club'.
They also heard from staff members who believed others could get away with inappropriate behavior, such as bullying, harassment and discrimination, "if they know the right people."
Some staff members in one department described their promotion processes as “feeling corrupt”.
They expressed this frustration after repeatedly requesting promotions, and despite failing, received no feedback or support.
They told inspectors: "If your face doesn't fit, you won't get in."
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