7-4-25 (1755)
A FRESH LOOK – A repository for reports, papers, conferences, media etc. mainly about WOMEN IN UNIFORM
Along with some fire service friends, fitting-in are going to be more active in the FRS equality debate (and similar organisations). Particularly about the treatment of women.
To this end we going to develop a web area that will act as a repository for reports, research and articles about women in the fire service. This will be freely available for people to access and use. This work started 5-4-25.
If you have anything that may be of interest on this topic, please send to dave.baigent@fitting-in.com
This is a totally non-commercial exercise.
This page is under construction as we collect materials.
Government Level Reports
Written Statement: Cultural reviews of North Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services Cabinet Office 5-2-25
FRS: Values and Culture in the Fire and Rescue Services. (March 2023) His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services.
National Fire Chiefs Council: Cultural Action Plan for UK Fire and Rescue Services. (July 2023)
Clark, B. (2022). Independent Review of FENZ’s Workplace Culture and Complaint Handling Practices. New Zealand, Deputy Public Service Commissioner.
Shaw, C. (2018). Independent Review of Fire and Emergency New Zealand’s workplace policies, procedures and practices to address bullying and harassment. New Zealand.
Wilson, J. and A. Scanlon (2015). Diversity in the Community versus Diversity in the NZFS: who is missing and why?
Met Police: An independent review into the standards of behaviour and internal culture of the Metropolitan Police Service. (March 2023) Baroness Casey of Blackstock DBE CB
Thematic Reviews
HMFSI (1999). A Thematic Review by HM Fire Service Inspectorate.
Media
Andrews, k. (2025). “Scottish Fire and Rescue Service facing bullying ‘crisis’ as concerns raised about ‘toxic’ culture.” ITV News Border.
Faragh, J. (2024) Avon Fire Service harassment case: female firefighter successfully sued employer for sex discrimination and unfair dismissal. Personnel Today. 26 Sept 2024
South Wales fire service taken over after sexual harassment probe BBC 6-2-24
Fire Chiefs told to reflect on positions as new report identifies ‘serious failings of leadership’. June 2024 Tom Atkins ITV New Wales
Sexual harassment and homophobic language are still prevalent issues at England’s fire services, BBC 1-8-24
Vinter, R. (2024). England’s fire brigades rife with ‘pockets of abhorrent behaviour ‘Sexist, racist or homophobic language has been used by almost a quarter of brigades, investigation finds.’ (Guardian 1-8-24). Guardian.
Tania Clayton accepted £200,000 plus £100,000 legal fees in an out-of-court settlement following five years of bullying, harassment at the hands of Hereford and Worcester Fire Brigade. Three articles
There is also an HMI report that suggests there may still be difficulties in 2018 and 2022
LGA Reports
Tackling sexual harassment in the fire service LGA Fire Conference March 2024https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/tackling_sexual_harassment_in_the_fire_service.pdf
https://www.local.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/tackling_sexual_harassment_in_the_fire_service.pdf
Reports on/from individual FRS
London Assembly, F. C. (2025). Action and ambition: London Fire Brigade’s culture. Fire Committee
https://www.london-fire.gov.uk/about-us/your-london-fire-brigade-our-plan-for-2023-29/
Independent Cultural Review Report Published by North Wales and Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Services Sarah Kincaid, Manon Roberts, Freya Smith, Catrina Bomford. February 2025
Mid and West Wales service has been described as a ‘boys club’, with nearly half (47%) of survey respondents reporting personal experiences with bullying and harassment in the service since June 2021. Firefighters reported that senior management presided over a ‘culture of fear and mistrust’.5 Feb 2025
LFB: Independent Culture Review of London Fire Brigade (November 2022) Nazir Afzal OBE
FBU Sexual Harassment Research (2024)
The intriguing circumstances surrounding Melbourne’s 2010 Equality Action Plan
PhD Research
Couch, S. The Relevance of Traditional Leadership Paradigms for the Essex Fire and Rescue Service in the 21st Century – Dissertation for Phd Anglia Ruskin University.
Ericson, M (2011) Up Close. Masculinity, Intimacy and Community in Firefighters? Work Teams, dissertation submitted in part requirement for PhD Department of Sociology, University of Gothen-burg. Written in Swedish, summary in English.
Sarah O’Connor: ‘Swinging The Lamp: The Watch Manager’s Career, Role and Occupational Identity
Dave Baigent: ‘One More Last Working Class Hero …‘
Testimonies
these reports
Independent Reports
Anglia Ruskin University. (2005). FireWorks. Cambridge
Ward, J. and D. Winstanley (2006). “Watching the Watch: The UK Fire Service and its Impact on Sexual Minorities in the Workplace.” Gender, Work & Organization 13 (2): 193-219.these reports
Other Reports
these reports