The London Fire Brigade is investigating 62 misconduct allegations after its professional standards unit (PSU) was ‘overwhelmed’ in the first year of its inception, MyLondon can reveal. Thirteen of the cases involve allegations of harassment, victimisation, bullying or discrimination, while some firefighters also face investigations over fraud, assault, and inappropriate behaviour.
The PSU was established in January 2024, the first of its kind for a UK fire service, after a damning report about the toxic workplace culture found the Brigade was ‘institutionally racist and sexist’. Commissioner Andy Roe ordered the Independent Culture Review, led by former Chief Prosecutor Nazir Afzal, after the suicide of 21-year-old trainee firefighter Jaden Francois-Esprit in August 2020.
In an apology letter to the family of Jaden Francois-Esprit, published before Christmas, Commissioner Roe said it had been critical for the Brigade to learn from Jaden’s experiences to ensure ‘the systems and processes that let Jaden down’ are addressed and changed.
London’s firefighters are some of the bravest men and women, but the organisation is reassessing its culture
(Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
As of early December 2024 (when we made a Freedom of Information request) the new PSU had received 220 contacts from staff. LFB say ‘many’ of the contacts were managed through local resolution or mediation, or could not be actioned due to a lack of evidence. Of those 220 contacts, 62 progressed to the formal disciplinary process.
Of these 62:
- Fewer than five were dismissed;
- Fewer than five resulted in no further action;
- Six resulted in no further action or local management resolution;
- 41 are being investigated or awaiting a hearing;
- A nine received a written warning or final written warning.
The reasons for the allegations were:
- Six were for breach of authority policy, health and safety regulations and/or confidentiality;
- Thirteen were for harassment, victimisation, bullying or discrimination;
- Eleven were for inappropriate behaviour or language;
- Eleven were for offences relating to alcohol and/or drugs;
- Six were for unauthorised absence or secondary employment;
- Fewer than five were for fraud;
- Fewer than five were for assault;
- And fewer than five were for technical offences.
Based on the inexact figures above, we can only estimate between one and five firefighters have been dismissed from the service after a complaint was made to the PSU. The LFB does not give exact figures on dismissals due to data protection regulations and the risk of identifying individuals, however a spokesperson for the Brigade previously said the Commissioner wants more transparency and public misconduct hearings in line with the Metropolitan Police approach.
‘Overwhelmed’
Martin Forde KC, Independent Chair of the LFB Culture Advisory Panel
(Image: GLA)
The figures also do not include allegations received and investigated by CMP Solutions, the Brigade’s external complaints service. Figures released by LFB last year show there were 329 contacts to that service between December 2022 and November 2023, leading to six dismissals, seven resignations, and 23 written warnings. The LFB has over 5,000 operational firefighters and officers.
At a scrutiny meeting at City Hall in November, Martin Forde KC, Independent Chair of the LFB Culture Advisory Panel, told committee members there was still ‘a job to be done’ around values, with extra concentration needed on initial training of firefighters, and reinforcing the the message to recruits between refresher courses.
City Hall heard the PSU has been ‘overwhelmed’ with cases since its inception. Members also heard a disproportionate number of grievances were raised by LGBT people, women, and the disabled. Commissioner Andy Roe told the panel he could not read into those figures alone without understanding the specific reasons behind them.
The Commissioner also told members there are consistently between 20 to 40 LFB staff suspended on varying levels of pay due to ongoing investigations. The figures released to MyLondon said 41 members of staff were still being investigated or awaiting a hearing.
‘We do not tolerate unacceptable behaviour’
A flock of birds fly past as firefighters tackle a blaze at a takeaway restaurant in London
(Image: Leon Neal/Getty Images)
A London Fire Brigade spokesperson said: “The Professional Standards Unit (PSU) has an integral role in actively promoting the high standards of behaviour required to represent London Fire Brigade. It also supports implementation of the Brigade’s values and ensures our approach to behaviour and conduct is transparent, fair, inclusive, and has integrity at its core.
“We do not tolerate unacceptable behaviour amongst staff and the PSU is an important function in our zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment and bullying in any form. The number of contacts received through the PSU, which is the first of its kind for a UK fire and rescue service, demonstrates the confidence that our staff have to speak out if they have concerns about inappropriate behaviour.
“The HMICFRS report, published in November 2024, provides a clear assessment of the positive change that has been achieved across London Fire Brigade since our last inspection in 2022, including the work we are doing to transform the culture across the organisation. But we have always been clear that the work to ensure that we have a safe and dignified workplace culture can never stop and everyday we will strive to do better to ensure we remain trusted to serve and protect London.”
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