Assistant fire boss quits after sexism inquiry

A chief fire officer has resigned after being investigated over accusations he exchanged sexist messages on WhatsApp about female colleagues.

Adam Matthews - who had served Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service as assistant chief officer - tendered his resignation on Monday and left the same day, the local fire authority confirmed.

The service had said last week - while the investigation into Mr Matthews was still active - that he had not been at work for a period of that process, but had not been suspended either.

Last Wednesday, the service's chief officer, Simon Hardiman - also accused - was given a written warning and allowed to return to work.

Mr Hardiman apologised "for the upset" that was caused.

Both men were subject to external, independent inquiries.

The fire service was asked by the BBC for clarification on whether, in the case of Mr Matthews, the investigation had been concluded prior to his resignation on Monday, and if so, what was the inquiry's finding.

It said the matter with regard to Mr Matthews was now closed and it would not be commenting further.

WhatsApp conversations, reportedly leaked to ITV News, were alleged to have featured exchanges between the pair that described women with whom they worked as "lazy cow[s]" and "useless".

In a public statement shared on the fire service's website, Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority chair David Minnery said: "I am writing to inform you that Assistant Chief Fire Officer Adam Matthews has tendered his resignation and will leave Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service on Monday 30 September 2024."

Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.