Two of Wales' fire services face review into culture after ITV Wales investigation

• Gwennan Campbell has the latest on the ITV Wales investigation.

North Wales and Mid and West Wales fire and rescue services face an independent review into their cultures.

It follows an ITV Wales investigation into the culture of the service in north Wales, which heard from more than 35 whistleblowers.

One whistleblower from North Wales described "sexual harassment and physical assault" at the service.

• Jonathan Hill spoke to three whistleblowers who described a "hostile work environment" at the service.

Another staff member told ITV: "I still love the fire service, it is family but things need to change".

The Welsh Government has now announced an independent review into the culture at both North and Mid and West Wales fire and rescue services.

In a statement, the deputy minister in charge of overseeing fire services, Hannah Blythyn, wrote: "Last month, I took the unprecedented step to appoint four commissioners to take over the running of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

"This followed a damning report by Fenella Morris KC, which revealed persistent levels of staff misconduct, a dysfunctional workplace culture and serious and systemic failings in management at all levels.

"I said I would reflect urgently on the extent to which similar issues were present in Wales’ two other fire and rescue services. I have subsequently met both the chief fire officers of Mid and West Wales and North Wales fire and rescue services and the chairs of the fire and rescue authorities to discuss the Morris report and its recommendations."

Ms Blythyn said both organisations "have embarked on comprehensive programmes to review and improve their organisational cultures," saying these build on staff surveys and ITV News' report on South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.

But while there are examples of good practice in both services, she "continues to receive correspondence from current and former employees of both organisations, including allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and favouritism in promotion".

Ms Blythyn continued: "The public need to be re-assured about the culture and related management practices in our fire and rescue services and staff need to be assured they have a safe and effective means to share their experiences – good and bad – within their organisation."

Both Mid and West Wales and North Wales fire and rescue services have agreed to carry out an independent review, with Ms Blythyn saying she would expect them to publish a report no later than autumn this year.

Roger Thomas, chief fire officer of Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue, said: “We welcome Welsh Government's decision to accept our proposal to review how we are progressing on our cultural journey.

“A robust cultural audit, undertaken by an external company, has already taken place at Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and as a result, through the formation of a Culture and Inclusion Board and Working Group, an action plan to make wide-ranging enhancements to our service is underway, a process which has been welcomed by Welsh Government.

“As well as focusing on the outcomes of our own cultural audit, this exercise pays cognisance to similar reports published by other fire and rescue services, as well as His Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services in England Spotlight report, recognising there are significant learning opportunities within their recommendations.

“We are committed to working closely with Welsh Government and North Wales Fire and Rescue Service on the review process – a collaborative approach which will ensure a comprehensive and unbiased assessment of our progress.

“The service has a zero-tolerance policy on any form of misogyny, racism, bullying or inappropriate behaviour and we place great emphasis on ensuring our staff feel supported in the workplace, providing several routes should they feel they need to share any concerns.

“I want to show appreciation for the continuous hard work and dedication of our staff, as well as reassure the public that we will handle this process with integrity, honesty and transparency.”

In response to Ms Blythyn's statement, Chief Fire Officer of North Wales Fire and Rescue Dawn Docx said: “We welcome Welsh Government's decision to accept our proposal to review how we are progressing on our cultural journey.

“This is a journey we embarked upon two years ago and we recognise the importance of external assurance, scrutiny, and challenge in our ongoing progress. We believe it is crucial to seek external validation and input to ensure that we continue on the right path.

“This is therefore an opportunity for continued self-reflection and improvement – a process which we began by conducting our own confidential staff survey and by also embracing the learning from other fire and rescue services.

“We understand that cultural transformation is not something we can achieve alone. It takes collaboration with our staff, with our stakeholders and with other fire and rescue services. We are committed to working closely with Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service to appoint an external person to conduct the review – a collaborative approach which will ensure a comprehensive and unbiased assessment of our progress.

“We remain dedicated to excellence and continuous improvement and welcome the opportunity for external scrutiny as it aligns with our commitment to transparency and accountability. This will help us identify areas of strength and areas for growth, ultimately enhancing our service delivery and community engagement.

“The wellbeing and experiences of our staff are of utmost importance. No-one should feel uncomfortable in raising any concerns, and they can opt to do so confidentially via an independent hotline - I promise they will always be taken seriously and there is also a wealth of support available.

“Our cultural journey began with our staff, through our first independent staff survey which laid the groundwork for positive change and now as we work through our most recent staff survey results, the voices of staff will continue to guide us.

“I want to express my gratitude for the ongoing hard work and dedication of our staff and provide assurance to the public that we will navigate this process with integrity and professionalism.”

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know…