we found that people felt unable to report those sorts of things. they were worried that if they did report poor behaviour or they raised concerns, they would be ostracised or vilified or their careers would be limited. better background checks, tougher penalties for offenders and a more diverse workforce are just some of the changes the inspectors want to see. the home office described the report as deeply concerning and said reform was urgently needed. june kelly, bbc news. i m joined now by matt wrack, general secretary for the fire brigades union in fire brigades union headquarters in norbiton. thank you very much for coming on the programme. thank you very much for coming on the programme- thank you very much for coming on i the programme. how the programme. good afternoon. how are ou the programme. good afternoon. how are you feeling. the programme. good afternoon. how are you feeling, sitting the programme. good afternoon. how are you feeling, sitting there - are you feeli
areas across england, found that in one case a senior officer used a racially offensive word when talking about a colleague, describing it as having a laugh. in what was said to be anotherjoke, two male firefighters told a female colleague they were going to rape her and the three of them acted out a rake together. out a rape together. and homophobic abuse was written on one firefighter s locker. we found that people felt unable to report those sorts of things. they were worried that if they did report poor behaviour or they raised concerns, they would be ostracised or vilified or their careers would be limited. better background checks, tougher penalties for offenders and a more diverse workforce are just some of the changes the inspectors want to see. the home office described the report as deeply concerning and said reform was urgently needed. june kelly, bbc news. our top story this lunchtime.
there have been allegations of bullying, harassment and discrimination at every fire service in england, over the past five years. according to inspectors, staff at a quarter of fire services reported racist, homophobic and misogynistic behaviour. our home affairs correspondent, june kelly, reports. the majority of firefighters are dedicated to helping the public, says today s report. but the inspectors also found bullying, harassment and discrimination in all of the 44 fire and rescue services in england. and in a quarter of them, there was racist, homophobic and misogynistic behaviour. we found that people felt unable to report those sorts of things. they were worried that if they did report poor behaviour or they raised concerns, they would be ostracised or vilified or their careers would be limited. the inspectors found that, in one case, a senior officer used a racially offensive word when talking about a colleague describing it as having a laugh.
they were worried that if they did report poor behaviour or they raised concerns, they would be ostracised or vilified or their careers would be limited. better background checks, tougher penalties for offenders and a more diverse workforce are just some of the changes the inspectors want to see. the home office described the report as deeply concerning and said reform was urgently needed. june kelly, bbc news. earlier we spoke to karen gowreesunker, assistant chief fire officer at west midlands fire service. i asked what her reaction was to the report. personally and as a fire and rescue service, condemn the appalling behaviour highlighted in the report. and it is a really difficult read around the concerns that have been raised within the fire sector and in particular with the impact on those who have experienced this
report poor behaviour or they raised concerns, they would be ostracised or vilified or their careers would be limited. the inspectors found that, in one case, a senior officer used a racially offensive word when talking about a colleague, describing it as having a laugh. in what was said to be anotherjoke, two male firefighters told a female colleague they were going to rape her. and the three of them acted out a rape together. and homophobic abuse was written on one firefighter s locker. there have been warning signs for quite some time. i think it is an issue that has been ignored at very senior levels. but, yes, it does tally with what members of ours have said, including in our special equality sections representing women, lgbt members and black and ethnic minority members. better background checks, tougher penalties for offenders and a more diverse workforce are just some of the changes the inspectors want to see.