South Wales Fire Chief to step down after damning report into culture within the service
ITV's UK Editor Paul Brand reports from Cardiff.
The Chief Fire Officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is to step down, following a damning report which found widespread sexual harassment and abuse within his service.
The outgoing CFO, Huw Jakeway, says "profoundly sorry" after a "shocking" report which found sexual harassment and domestic abuse were "tolerated" by South Wales' fire service.
82 recommendations have been made to help change its culture.
In an open letter, published alongside the 185-page review, Huw Jakeway said it "is time for a change in leadership" and that he intends to retire.
He said: "I have had the privilege of serving as the Chief Fire Officer for over twelve years, where I have been entrusted to lead our service through many challenges and changes, such as austerity, a global public health pandemic, personal tragedy and significant emergency incidents that have tested us.
"I have always led with mutual respect, inclusivity, pride and passion.
"I am confident through a collective commitment across the Service and with assistance from partners, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service will emerge with a more positive and inclusive culture."
It comes after an investigation by ITV News in December 2022 which found evidence that two firemen had been allowed to keep their jobs despite sexually harassing and abusing women.
The review was headed by Fenella Morris KC who was instructed to look into the culture, discipline processes and historic discipline cases within the service following the ITV report.
The review highlights a culture of tolerating problematic behaviours including sexual harassment, negative assumptions about women; domestic abuse and physical aggression outside of work; the expression of negative views in relation to the protected characteristics of sex, race and/or religion; bullying; harmful ‘banter’; drug and alcohol abuse; and improper interference with procedures.
Furthermore, it adds misconduct, including criminal conduct, was "insufficiently addressed to the detriment of the Service's culture".
The report's authors heard testimony claiming: "It’s a man’s world and it comes from the top", and "You'd have to murder your own mother to get sacked from this place."
The report's authors added: "We observed that people in the Service have an ingrained sense that you cannot challenge someone who is above you in the hierarchy, and, if you do, you will be punished, usually by being prevented from progressing up the hierarchy yourself."
This, they added, has led to a culture in which people are afraid to step forward, raise grievances or support the taking of disciplinary action - as there has been no follow-up action by the Service.
The report reads: "In our view, a Boys’ Club exists within the Service, especially at the top; there is certainly a strong perception of the same throughout the Service."
The Service was found to have a lack of transparency around decision-making, nepotism; patriarchal attitudes; the toleration of the objectification and sexual harassment of women; and overbearing behaviours towards women.
The report authors even said they had "experienced some of these behaviours ourselves during the review".
It found "dark humour" was used as a screen for offensive and grossly inappropriate comments and material being shared in WhatsApp groups.
The material being shared included sexually explicit images, images of graphic violence, and sexist comments.
Self-described "banter" was used as a cover for sexist comments used, the report added - with a general tolerance and facilitation of negative attitudes towards women across the Service.
Speaking at the time, Mr Jakeway said: “I am truly shocked and horrified at what I heard on the news report last night.
"The strength and bravery of the victims to come forward and speak to yourselves in such an open and graphic manner.
"It was truly horrific for me and that is why I have moved to an independent review of our culture, a review of our discipline processes and a review of our historic discipline cases that we already heard.
"In the last 24 hours the person you named as an employee in the service has been suspended and is pending a disciplinary investigation.”
ITV News revealed that in 2020 one of South Wales' firefighters was found to have sexually harassed a female member of staff while at work.
A firefighter was accused of exposing himself to a cleaner on night shifts, with the harassment spanning a number of years.
Waiving her anonymity, Shirley – who works at Ely station in Cardiff – says she eventually reported their behaviour out of fear she could be raped.
In August of last year, ITV News revealed an external investigation was commissioned by the service following a further complaint by Shirley who claimed Mr Jakeway had been untruthful about what he knew of her case.
Mr Jakeway said he had been unaware of the harassment she suffered.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service became the first fire service in the world to be awarded ‘white ribbon’ status in 2014, a status that has now been suspended following the ITV News investigation.
As part of ‘white ribbon’ accreditation, the service promised to provide a safe haven for women fleeing danger.
Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn said: "This is an important and highly critical report, which has exposed unacceptable behaviours and attitudes.
"It also identifies underlying failures in leadership, governance and decision-making by management at all levels of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
"There is no place for such a culture in the fire service nor in any other organisation.
"I will consider this report in detail and will meet the Chair of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority urgently to discuss how the Authority plans to implement the report’s recommendations and how it will be accountable for doing so.”
Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…