Senior fire officers investigated over 'horrendous' messages

Simon Hardiman and Adam Matthews are being investigated over messages exchanged on WhatsApp

Two senior fire officers are being investigated over claims they exchanged "deeply concerning" messages, one of which talked of "killing" a female colleague.

WhatsApp conversations, reportedly leaked to ITV News, are said to involve Shropshire chief fire officer Simon Hardiman and his deputy Adam Matthews, and described women they work with as "lazy cow[s]" and "useless", during exchanges over more than a year.

The expletive-laden messages have been referred to by a solicitor as "horrendous, discriminatory, [and] offensive".

Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service said it was investigating the claims, which the inspectorate has described as "deeply concerning".

Helen Moore, from The Employment Solicitor, said the fire authority had known about the alleged exchanges for two months but had not taken action or suspended the two men.

A number of the offensive messages targeted area manager Jan Morris, a trigger that led her to resign, said Ms Moore, who has not yet seen the messages herself.

'Still kill her buddy'

In other messages, Mr Matthews is alleged to have said Ms Morris was ineffective in her work and that "I've got no loyalty to the lazy cow".

In another exchange, Mr Hardiman is alleged to have said: "I've calmed down now, but I could still kill her, buddy."

Ms Moore, a Worcester-based lawyer, said: "They are so offensive, considering they were sent by the chief fire officer - the first and second officers in charge,"

"This is over a period of 12, 18 months at least, where they're communicating casually about their views about women, about Jan, referring to her as a 'lazy cow'."

In other exchanges, the pair discussed a request Ms Morris made on LinkedIn about finding a firm that made female firefighters' uniforms.

"She is having a whinge on LinkedIn again, that's the reason this gender shit pisses me off, constantly rammed down our throats," Mr Matthews is alleged to have said.

The allegations come after Ms Morris was a witness in the case of firefighter Sasha Acheson, who won a sex discrimination case against Avon Fire and Rescue Service.

Ms Acheson had accused her employers of sex discrimination, harassment and unfair dismissal.

A spokesperson for Shropshire fire service said: "We are aware of allegations made against officers within Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service.

"These complaints are being externally and independently investigated and we will take all appropriate actions when it has been completed.

"The service takes all complaints extremely seriously and hold all our staff accountable, regardless of their position.

"We will share any outcomes of these investigations in due course."

'Take all evidence into account'

Ms Moore said an employment tribunal case had not yet been lodged against the fire service, but the law firm was in the process of advancing the complaint.

His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) said it was due to be inspecting the fire service in the next six weeks as part of a pre-planned programme.

"The allegations in relation to messages reported to have been shared between senior officers at Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service are deeply concerning," a spokesperson said.

"We were aware of the broad nature of these concerns, and that they are being externally and independently investigated.

"It would not be appropriate to comment further on this specific case at this time.

“We take all evidence into account as part of our inspection process."