'I'm sorry' says outgoing South Wales Fire Chief after 'shocking' report into sexism at the service

• ITV Wales' reporter Siôn Jenkins spoke with Huw Jakeway after he revealed he intends to retire.

The outgoing chief fire officer of South Wales Fire and Rescue says he is "profoundly sorry" after a "shocking" report into the culture at his service.

Huw Jakeway has spoken exclusively to ITV Wales after a review found sexual harassment and domestic abuse was "tolerated" at the service.

Fenella Morris KC was appointed to lead the inquiry after an ITV News investigation in 2022 reported on a victim of sexual harassment who accused Mr Jakeway of being untruthful about what he knew about her case.

Her team found there was a lack of transparency in recruitment and promotion procedures, toleration of problematic behaviours like sexual harassment, and negative assumptions about women.

Incidents of domestic abuse and physical aggression outside of work, bullying, harmful banter and alcohol and drug abuse were also exposed.

“I have been a chief fire officer here for 12 years, I’ve led the service with honesty and integrity and inclusivity, but what I have heard and have read in the report is shocking”, Mr Jakeway said.

When asked if he thought the report was “damning”, he said: “It is indeed and they are unacceptable behaviours, they are not my standards, they are not my values and they are not the values and standards of most people within the organisation as well.”

He praised those who came forward to share their experiences of working within the service and admitted it had been “difficult” to read the report but hoped it would help “make the service better”.

The review made 82 recommendations and Mr Jakeway said he accepts them all.

The report raised concerns about the way women are viewed and treated. Quotes from female staff highlighted sexual harassment and concerns over career progression.

These included, “Be a good girl”, and “It’s a difficult workplace to be a woman every day you’d be subjected to something".

When asked about these responses and how obstructive the culture was to encourage his vision for females in the service, Mr Jakeway said: “We know that we need to be a better service at attracting females, particularly female firefighters.

“We know that here is 8% of our operational staff are female we’ve had significant improvements in the last few years in attracting more female applicants to be firefighters but there is a significant amount of work to do.”

He accepted “there had been failings across the organisation”, but said they were “not his standards and not the standards of the people that worked for the service”.

Mr Jakeway said: “We need to be better, to be better at supporting and looking out for each other.

“We are very, very good at protecting our community, we are there 24/7 365 for our community.

“What we need to be is better at supporting and being compassionate and caring to each other in the workplace and building a culture that is open and fair and free from discrimination and victimisation.”

Mr Jakeway will step down from his role with a full pension in the coming months. When asked why he had not decided to go sooner he told ITV Wales: “I’ve reached the twilight of my career and I could have retired before today but I didn’t think that was right and proper.

“I wanted to stay in post and I commissioned and I wanted to receive the review.”

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