The independent review asked 1,840 employees to respond to a survey, and 453 did so. Many of the responses were damning. There were also some alarming testimonies from staff focus groups. Here are some of the key points:
In focus groups, female staff reported:
• Sexual innuendos and sexualised comments, for example, commenting on the social media profile of a female firefighter and asking other female staff if they too have an Only Fans account
• Comments about appearance – directly to female workers and about other women in their presence
• Jokes about women, unwanted contact and propositions for dates
One employee, who recalled feeling uncomfortable about a conversation they witnessed involving a manager and a female staff member, said: “The watch manager basically started talking about her as if she was someone to just be sexualised. ‘Oh, I would give her one.'”
Another staff member claimed negative comments on immigration were common in the service. They said: “It’s always a joke made about the crossing the boat crossing [sic]. Obviously I’m an immigrant myself, but I came in a very different way.”
Some 41% of survey respondents said they had witnessed inappropriate behaviour. The report found: “The data shows clearly that inappropriate behaviour is both tolerated and, in some cases, encouraged… Challenging it, or making a formal complaint is [portrayed as] not worth it, and may have negative repercussions.”
Only 56% of respondents said their manager encourages them to speak up, and fewer than half said their managers often set the right example.
Focus group participants gave examples of managers at all levels behaving inappropriately through sexualised comments, jokes and actions. One employee told a focus group: “In a group of senior leaders someone said, ‘Are you pinning the tail on that about her?’ Meaning ‘are you having sex with that person?’ No one had said that was inappropriate. But it was like quite high level people. And they should be leading by example to say that’s not okay.”
Another staff member said: “I wouldn’t have my daughter working here because she’s a beautiful girl. I wouldn’t put her in this environment if my life depended on it.”
There is a strong perception that the hiring and promotions process is unfair. One employee said: “There’s so many officers with daughters and sons in this job now is unbelievable. We’ve got sons and daughters who are getting promoted left, right and centre. Again, nepotism is so spoken about when you go on station. It’s unbelievable.”
The survey results also show that corporate staff feel they receive less respect than operational staff, and junior employees feel they are treated with less respect than senior leaders.
William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
