Nearly one in four Northamptonshire fire and rescue staff subject to discrimination

A new inspection of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service, released today, has found failings in the way they look after their workforce. This includes a finding that 24% of staff had been subject to discrimination over the past 12 months.

Just 25% of the staff who had been subjected to discrimination or harassment thought reporting their concerns had or would lead to a meaningful response.

The inspection, by Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services, also found that the fire and rescue service needs to improve in terms of promoting diversity, stating that “creating a more representative workforce will provide huge benefits”.

Other concerns include excessive hours being worked, stating “The service doesn’t effectively monitor staff who have secondary employment or dual contracts to make sure they comply with the secondary employment policy and don’t work excessive hours”.

The FBU is concerned that fire and rescue service is failing in its duty to protect the health and safety of firefighters by not managing the excessive hours they are requested to work, creating a risk of exhaustion.

The report states that “overall, Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service requires improvement at looking after its people” and that the service “is failing to implement objectives outlined in its strategies to make sure it effectively looks after its people”.

Ben Selby, Fire Brigades Union executive council member for the East Midlands, said:

“This report is utterly devastating for the heads of Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service. They’ve left their employees in a situation where they are subjected to bullying, harassment, and discrimination. It is absolutely unacceptable. The fact that firefighters dare not raise issues only adds to what is an utterly awful situation.”

“We are pleased that the current chief fire officer Darren Dovey is about to depart. Although we don’t have confidence that the incoming chief will improve matters, Mr Dovey is leaving behind a legacy he should be ashamed of.

“Exhausted firefighters are not able to safely respond to emergencies. For years now we have been raising this, all to no avail. Unfortunately, Mr Dovey has continued to use his firefighters as commodities, increasing the risk they are exposed to by running them to empty.”