Changes urged after fire service WhatsApp scandal

Simon Hardiman (left) and Adam Matthews were investigated by the fire authority

Auditors have urged a fire authority to introduce a change of culture after a chief officer and his deputy were investigated over WhatsApp messages which were offensive towards women.

The conversations, reportedly leaked to ITV News last year, were said to involve Shropshire's chief fire officer Simon Hardiman and his assistant Adam Matthews

In them, they described women they work with as "lazy cow[s]" and "useless", during exchanges over more than a year.

Mr Hardiman was given a written warning, but allowed to return to work, whilst Mr Matthews stepped down before an investigation had concluded last autumn.

The auditors, Grant Thornton, said Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority "followed its own processes and appropriately investigated these matters" in relation to the WhatsApp messages.

But a report by auditors, due to be discussed at a meeting of the fire authority on Tuesday, said it could find no evidence of an existing social media policy and that one needed to be introduced.

It said one was needed "to ensure that it avoids adverse impacts through inappropriate use of social media by officers".

They said they were "not satisfied" that some of the "leadership demonstrated appropriate behaviours" and that it showed "a significant weakness in the fire authority's arrangement to ensure appropriate standards and behaviours".

Leading by example

It recommended the fire authority "develop and implement an action plan for promoting the right values and culture".

It said this should include "ensuring that senior officers lead by example and act as role models".

The auditors said a wide range of issues picked up by inspectors in 2021 had not been dealt with and this continued into 2024.

It also revealed the fire authority has been dealing with some "potential employment related claims" and should work to estimate their likely financial impact.

The report did not reveal whether any employment claims have been made against the authority, or who they consider might make a claim in the future.

A spokesperson for the fire service and the fire authority said it "accepts the external auditors report and have submitted management actions to meet the recommendations in full".

This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations.