Call to make staff misconduct hearings public - LFB

Andy Roe was challenged on the number of dismissals connected to the culture review

The London Fire Brigade (LFB) wants to see staff misconduct hearings held in public after efforts to improve their culture were questioned by the Liberal Democrats.

Since an independent review in 2022 which found the LFB to be "institutionally misogynist and racist" the service was put into a form of special measures to tackle its workplace culture.

But at a recent London Assembly meeting the Lib Dems disputed whether 13 personnel who had been dismissed were due to sexism, racism, bullying and homophobia.

The Home Office said it had commissioned a report into how misconduct was being tackled in the fire and rescue services.

The dispute over the numbers began in a December meeting of the assembly's fire, resilience and emergency planning committee when Ms Bokhari, a Liberal Democrat, said there had been no dismissals of LFB personnel in connection with the culture review.

The following month, her party carried out a freedom of information request (FOI) which found "13 people had exited the LFB" since November 2022.

Hina Bokhari disputed the number of people dismissed over the culture review

Of the 13 dismissed in that time, 10 were "non-uniformed" staff and three were uniformed.

The response lists 10 reasons "under employment law" for these dismissals:

• Failure of drugs or alcohol test/breach of drugs and alcohol procedure

• Assault, physical violence and/or threatening behaviour

• Criminal charges or convictions

• Undertaking outside employment without permission

• Bringing the authority into serious disrepute

• Inappropriate behaviour

• Unauthorised absence from duty

• Failure to notify the brigade of criminal charges or convictions

• Fraud

• Breaches of confidentiality

'Can't unpick each case'

The Lib Dems said these were "standard dismissals not related to the culture review".

Ms Bokhari added: "The fact that not a single dismissal has been made regarding racism, misogyny, homophobia or bullying in the year since the culture review into the LFB is truly shocking and shows that the LFB is behind the curve compared to the Met in tackling these issues."

She challenged the LFB again on 8 February where Mr Roe again said there had been 13 dismissals.

"I know some of those cases related directly to bullying and harassment. I’m very clear about that," he said.

He added that not all detail could be provided on cases due to data protection regulations but the dismissals were due to these reasons.

Mr Roe said that addressing a "history of poor behaviour", including all of the reasons for the dismissals, "does speak to the culture of leadership inside fire stations".

He added there were 84 live investigations with "well over" 30 people suspended.

Since the figures were called into question, a spokesperson for Mr Roe admitted that more transparency was needed.

"The commissioner would like to see changes in regulation that allow the brigade to report on our disciplinary cases more transparently so that the public and elected representatives can see the progress being made as we improve our workplace culture."

The spokesperson said the brigade would like to move toward a similar process which exists at the Met Police where misconduct hearings are open to the public.

Currently, misconduct can be reported to a professional standards unit which then investigates each case.

They said the "final decision" on dismissals lies with the LFB as the employer.

The Home Office said: "Public safety is our first priority and fire and rescue services and their authorities must ensure they uphold the highest levels of integrity.

"We will continue to work closely with our partners, including fire and rescue services, to ensure issues regarding integrity across the sector are addressed.

"This includes commissioning a thematic inspection of the handling of misconduct in fire and rescue services that will be reported on in June."