Fire service that tolerated abuse needs more time to change, say ministers

A fire service tackling a culture of sexual harassment and misogyny has not made enough progress despite Welsh government intervention, ministers say.

A 2024 report said senior South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) managers ignored allegations of sexism and abusive behaviour and tolerated domestic abuse outside work.

Four commissioners, appointed by the previous Labour Welsh government, took over the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority, the service's governing body, to oversee reform.

The new Plaid Cymru government said there had been "significant progress", but changes were not yet sufficiently embedded.

SWFRS said more time was needed so reforms were fully embedded and sustainable.

The review found "serious deficiencies in the service" after surveying more than 450 staff.

It followed an ITV news report in 2022 claiming firefighters had kept their jobs despite allegations they had sexually harassed and abused women in the service.

Minister Siân Gwenllian said, in a written statement on Monday, that the senior managers who oversaw the original failings had been replaced, "internal policies and procedures are being overhauled and made fairer and more robust".

"Staff survey results show that workplace culture is improving, albeit from a very low base," she said.

But "whilst there has been significant progress, the commissioners do not believe that their task is finished".

"They have concluded that change is not sufficiently embedded to survive a return to local control," she said.

Amanda Brown, SWFRS director of corporate services, said the service welcomed the Welsh government decision.

She said the service agreed commissioners' work was not yet complete and backed plans for fire authority members to help prepare for a return to local governance, potentially through a transition committee.

The commissioners are to remain in place until after next year's local elections.