Culture of misogyny and racism puts London Fire Brigade into enhanced monitoring

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has been put into enhanced monitoring after a damning report found it to be "institutionally misogynist and racist". 

As a result of the report into it published in November His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) has placed the LFB into "an enhanced level of monitoring". 

An Independent Review by Nazir Afzal OBE found that there were many incidents which constituted "cultural problems" within the organisation. 

Andy Roe, London Fire Commissioner, said in a statement: "I recognised that LFB's culture needed to improve which is why I commissioned the Independent Culture Review and took immediate actions when it was published last month.  

"Our external complaints service is supporting colleagues and a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment and bullying means all staff know what behaviours aren't tolerated. 

"Change is happening now and from the face to face meetings I've been having with firefighters and other staff shows there is a passion to make sure our culture works for everyone.  

"We welcome the additional support as part of the Inspectorate's enhanced monitoring programme and I look forward to working with them and other partners to monitor progress and change in the future." 

HMICFRS said that they monitor every fire service with a two-step process: scan and engage, all fire services are constantly in the scan phase and it moves to engage when there is particular cause for concern. 

They decided to move LFB into the engage phase as the inspection into their conduct demonstrated that there was "cumulative evidence" of "unacceptable behaviour within the brigade, including discrimination and bullying." 

His Majesty's Inspector of Fire and Rescue Services Matt Parr said: "We should recognise that London Fire Brigade's recent cultural review was commissioned by the brigade, whose leadership has accepted its findings without reservation. 

"However, it is clear that the behavioural problems we highlighted earlier this year are deep seated and have not improved. The Engage process provides additional scrutiny of the brigade's plans, and support for them from across the fire sector. 

"We will now examine London Fire Brigade's improvement plans more frequently and more intrusively, and work closely with the brigade to monitor its progress."