London Fire Brigade Removes 13 Members in Response to “Damning Report”

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) has removed 13 staff members after a lack of change in response to last year’s report claiming it was “institutionally misogynist and racist”.

Andy Roe, fire commissioner, said he wanted to “see the law change to enable the creation of a barred list for UK fire brigades.”

It would ensure the discharged staff are not re-employed in the sector.

On Tuesday, Roe told the Assembly’s fire, resilience and emergency planning committee thirteen people have been “exited” so far.

Six of the 13 staff members “exited with no opportunity to be re-employed.”

“I expect, speaking frankly, a number to follow that will grow that number,” he said.

He added, “a very large number of sanctions at lower levels – that includes demotion, that includes final written warning”.

“More importantly, if we get a legislative change – which I hope we do and it becomes a regulated profession – I hope those people end up on a barred list.

“So, I would hope all 13 end up on a barred list if the Government can support us for another step-in legislation around the regulation of the profession.”

According to Roe, seven staff members had “resigned, with loss of pension and rights” before the misconduct hearing occurred.

Risk of Unemployment

Tory assembly member Lord Bailey queried the barred list idea.

He asked Roe, “Is this a public barred list, and aren’t you a little bit worried about the effect it will have on the individual’s future?

“Because yes, this person may have behaved badly, yes, they are not up to your standard, but might this be that they cannot get any employment once they’ve been dismissed? Is that a risk?”

Roe responded, “I don’t want to sound unsympathetic, but that’s not my concern. Because if I look at health and if I look at policing, you can publicize individual outcomes of discipline.

“It’s a massive deterrent to poor behavior because you know you’re going to be publicly named.

“It shouldn’t be like that, you’re right.

“As a committee, we should expect better of people, but I would like us to be in the same place as health professions – some health professions – and policing, where actually, when you come in, you understand the responsibility and the privilege [that] putting this uniform on means.

“If you don’t uphold those standards and you’re dismissed as a result, we publish that, and I’m afraid you do go on a barred list.”

‘Cultural Change’

Roe explained the LFB previously received legal advice enabling them to disclose how many people were dismissed after the report because the number was low, and the individuals could be identified.

The threshold passed, and they were able to publish the number.

Roe spoke to the London Assembly meeting on Tuesday, where members discussed what progress had been made within the Brigade, one year from the Independent Culture Review authored by Nazir Afzal, former chief crown prosecutor for the Northwest.

He said, “Of the 23 recommendations set out in Mr. Afzal’s report last year, nine had been completed, and the remaining 14 were in progress.”

He was committed to “culture change” within the LFB and was working to create an “inclusive workplace”.

According to LFB’s latest data, the new and independent external complaints service had received 329 contacts in 11 months up to 31 October 2023. the contacts led to 84 investigations.

Roe said after the death of firefighter Jaden Matthew Francois-Esprit, who took his own life in August 2020, a third of the investigation was established.

“This is the third time that we have gone back to that case, which speaks to the historic failure of process and analysis.

“I don’t think it’s fair to the family of Jaden, I don’t think it’s fair to anyone involved, and we should have done it right the first time, he added.

The report is concluded, and LFB will see a presentation about it in the upcoming weeks.