London Fire Brigade boss issues grovelling apology after damning report
THE boss of London Fire Brigade issued a grovelling apology after it was found to be institutionally sexist and racist.
Commissioner Andy Roe yesterday said any firefighters identified as bullies face the sack.
An independent review discovered detailed accounts ranging from women being groped to staff having their helmets filled with urine.
The probe was ordered after a fireman took his own life in August 2020.
Led by Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor, the report found the fire service had “dangerous levels of ingrained prejudice against women”.
And those from minority backgrounds were “frequently the target of racist abuse”.
Mr Roe told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was horrified, adding: “I think there will be many of my staff, decent dedicated public servants, that will be equally horrified.
"Yeah, heartbroken really.”
He also said he “expects to dismiss people” as a result of the report.
Asked if he agreed with the finding that his brigade is institutionally misogynist and racist, he said: “I think when 2,000 of your staff have written that story, you can’t deny any of it.
“I accept the report in full — I accept all the recommendations. There will be change and the change starts now.”
He insisted the public can trust the service because no evidence was found of bigotry during call-outs.
The report, which makes 23 recommendations, was based on the experiences of hundreds of staff.
Incidents included a black firefighter having a noose left by his locker and bacon being stuffed in the sandwich of a bullied Muslim crew member.
An independent review discovered detailed accounts ranging from women being groped to staff having their helmets filled with urine.
The probe was ordered after a fireman took his own life in August 2020.
Led by Nazir Afzal, a former chief crown prosecutor, the report found the fire service had “dangerous levels of ingrained prejudice against women”.
And those from minority backgrounds were “frequently the target of racist abuse”.
Mr Roe told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme he was horrified, adding: “I think there will be many of my staff, decent dedicated public servants, that will be equally horrified.
"Yeah, heartbroken really.”
He also said he “expects to dismiss people” as a result of the report.
Asked if he agreed with the finding that his brigade is institutionally misogynist and racist, he said: “I think when 2,000 of your staff have written that story, you can’t deny any of it.
“I accept the report in full — I accept all the recommendations. There will be change and the change starts now.”
He insisted the public can trust the service because no evidence was found of bigotry during call-outs.
The report, which makes 23 recommendations, was based on the experiences of hundreds of staff.
Incidents included a black firefighter having a noose left by his locker and bacon being stuffed in the sandwich of a bullied Muslim crew member.