Serious problem of racism and sexism in London Fire Brigade

Jaden Francois-Esprit was bullied in London Fire Brigade

The London Fire Brigade is riddled with racism, homophobia and “extreme sexism”, according to a new independent review. The investigation was set up after trainee firefighter Jaden Francois-Esprit died by suicide in August 2020.

Jaden experienced racism and bullying at Wembley fire station in west London, where he was based. He had made 16 unsuccessful requests to transfer to a different station before his death.

And the new review, conducted by Nazir Afzal, the former Chief Crown Prosecutor for north west England, shows that Jaden’s experience was far from unique. Afzal has concluded that the London Fire Brigade is “institutionally misogynistic and racist” in a devastating look at the “toxic culture” of the service.

So-called “banter” included “continually mocking people’s religion, taking bets on who would be the first person in the team to sleep with a woman and filling people’s helmets with urine. In one case of horrendous racial abuse, we spoke to a black firefighter who had a noose put above his locker,” notes the report.

“We also spoke to a Muslim who was constantly bullied about his religion and had bacon and sausages put in his coat pockets and a terrorist hotline sign posted on his locker.” Muslim firefighters were subject to “constant mockery, baiting and bullying,” with racial slurs being used on “countless occasions”.

Women were sexually assaulted on training exercises, punched and attacked and faced a “daily gauntlet of sexist abuse”. Gay firefighters faced bullying and exclusion. One reported, “I was told, ‘I’m not going into a fire with you in case you try it on’.”

The FBU union said the report “makes for difficult reading. There is no place for such behaviour or attitudes within the fire and rescue service or within our trade union.” It said it was taking action over the issues, but acknowledged further work was necessary.

The fire service, modelled on a military-style structure, encourages the sort of rotten macho and racist attitudes confirmed in the report. It’s driven from the top but is then reflected by some people at the base. And far too often it’s covered-up or ignored.

The racism and misogyny wreck people’s lives and are poisonous to any notion of class unity. There needs to be serious attention and action by management but also by the FBU.