Bucks Fire and Rescue ‘not toxic’ service says after damming reports into culture

Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service has said it “does not have a toxic atmosphere” following damming reports on the cultures at fire services across England.

BFRS said 92 per cent of staff think their colleagues consistently model and maintain the Service’s values, which include serving the community and a commitment to diversity.

Meanwhile, not a single member of staff disagreed that values are upheld, according to the most recent staff survey from spring 2023.

A BFRS spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “The Service does not have a toxic atmosphere.

“We do not tolerate bullying, harassment and discrimination of any kind and will ensure unacceptable behaviour in the workplace is challenged.

“We are committed to creating an open, transparent, and safe working environment. Where our employees feel safe and are positively encouraged to speak up against unacceptable behaviour.”

The fresh assurance of a positive culture at BFRS comes after a devastating report into fire services across the country by His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) unearthed instances of racism, homophobia and misogynistic behaviour.

The report from March read: “We have repeatedly found evidence of poor values, culture and behaviour, including bullying, harassment and discrimination, in many of the 44 fire and rescue services in England.”

One high profile service was London Fire Brigade, which was put into special measures after a separate report revealed a toxic culture at the service.

BFRS was previously told that it could do more to tackle bullying, harassment and discrimination, in a 2021 report by HMICFRS into effectiveness, efficiency and people.

The watchdog said a survey in 2021 revealed that 89.4 percent of staff who reported bullying, harassment or discrimination felt either “unable to report the situation or that little had changed” after reporting these behaviours.

The survey revealed that 13.7 per cent of staff had been subject to harassment and 18.5 per cent to discrimination over the past 12 months.

However, since then the service has made progress, with staff describing a positive change in equality, diversity, and inclusion, according to an update from HMICFRS in February 2023.

Meanwhile an update from June 2023 showed how BFRS was progressing with the 35 recommendations the watchdog set out in the March report for all forces in England.

It showed that the service had completed or was on track to complete the majority of the recommendations.

A BFRS spokesperson said: “An extraordinary meeting of the Fire Authority was held on 28 April 2023 to discuss this report.

“BFRS has always taken the culture of our service extremely seriously.  Our values have been in place since 2011 and we want to make sure all our staff and the public we serve are treated with the dignity and respect they deserve.”