South Wales fire service harassment: Minister vows to act

Ministers say they will intervene in the running of the south Wales fire service following a damning report on a culture of sexual harassment.

Hannah Blythyn, who is responsible for the fire service, said she is "not convinced" the organisation can address the problems identified on its own.

"The issue is not whether the Welsh government becomes involved, but how and to what extent," she said.

Ms Blythyn made a statement to Senedd members about the report on Tuesday.

Last week, an independent review concluded that bosses at the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service tolerated sexual harassment and domestic abuse outside work.

Allegations of sexism and abusive behaviour towards staff prompted the investigation, which found "serious deficiencies in the service" after surveying more than 450 staff.

A report also detailed how the service "tolerates" firefighters posting sexualised images in their uniform on adult platform OnlyFans.

It followed an ITV news report in 2022 claiming firefighters had kept their jobs despite allegations they had sexually harassed and abused women in the service.

The chief fire officer Huw Jakeway has apologised and is stepping down.

The minister told the Welsh Parliament: "When I met the chair of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority yesterday, it was clear that he is taking the report seriously and accepts all the recommendations in full. But that can only be the start of a long process of reform and cultural change."

"And I am far from convinced that the authority alone is capable of designing, overseeing and implementing that process. The issue is not whether the Welsh government becomes involved, but how and to what extent."

She added: "I am ruling nothing out in terms of Welsh government support, direction or intervention in South Wales Fire and Rescue Service. We simply cannot accept this level of discrimination and mismanagement in an organisation charged with protecting people from serious harm".

Ms Blythyn said the retirement of Mr Jakeway, was "nowhere near sufficient to stimulate and embed the degree of cultural change that is necessary".

She said she was concerned that the "identified failures" could affect the delivery of frontline services.

"Individuals who assault, bully, harass and victimise their colleagues are palpably unfit to discharge duties relating to public protection. Staff who experience or witness this kind of treatment, or who see promotion based on nepotism not merit, are very likely to be demotivated, mismanaged and badly led," she said.

Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Conservatives called for independent reviews into the culture at Wales' other fire and rescue services.

The minister said she expected those services to read the south Wales report and reflect upon it.