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Concerns fire service can't keep people safe - report

Charlie Buckland & Stephen Fairclough
BBC News
Getty Images Photograph of the back of a welsh fire officer. The sign on his jacket reads: Tan Fire. Getty Images
A report into South Wales Fire Service found concerns about its ability to keep people safe

There are concerns a fire service cannot keep people safe from fires and other risks, a report has found.

The report by HM Inspector of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) into South Wales Fire Service questioned the efficacy of the service in consistently identifying, prioritising and mitigating risks for the public.

It was called for by the service's new commissioners after a series of damning independent reviews found sexual harrassment and misogynistic behaviour within the service.

Fin Monahan, chief fire officer, described the findings as a "hard read" but assured colleagues there is a "robust" plan in place for dealing with the recommendations.

The HMICFRS inspector, Roy Wilsher, said the service did not have up-to-date risk information to protect both the public and firefighters.

It found the service didn't always prioritise those most at risk and there was a lack of understanding among staff of the service's targets for reporting high-risk categories.

These include considering people's age, mobility, and whether the person lives alone or has been hoarding, among other things.

The report also found it needed to "be more effective in tackling bullying, harassment and discrimination" following criticisms of its workplace culture identified in a previous review.

It found one in six staff surveyed said they'd felt bullied or harassed at work, or discriminated against, and the number of disciplinary actions taken had doubled in two years.

The fire service was taken over by the Welsh government in February 2024 after it was found to have a culture of sexual harassment and misogyny.

Mr Wilsher said: "I don't underestimate how much improvement is needed."

He added he was encouraged by the commitment shown by the chief fire officer and commissioners to make improvements through developing a "transformation programme".

In a statement, the service said it was "listening, learning, and seeking to lead the way in fire and rescue service transformation of cultures".

It added it was committed to delivering an exceptional service to reflect its internal values of "inclusivity, transparency, and accountability".

The Welsh government said the service had begun implementing the recommendations and it would continue to work with the commissioners and the chief fire officer to deliver their improvement priorities.