Firefighters facing misconduct have left or quit the service
It has emerged that 32 Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS) officers left the service in disgrace between 2020-21 and February this year.
Data obtained under Freedom of Information shows that 25 firefighters were sacked during the period after facing gross misconduct hearings over charges including, physical violence or bullying, serious health and safety breaches, theft/fraud, unlawful discrimination/harassment, breach in confidence and misusing SFRS property.
A further seven officers resigned prior to scheduled gross misconduct hearings.
SFRS say they are unable to identify the specific allegations involved in the various cases due to risks of identifying those involved.
But it came to light earlier this year that a number of firefighters were forced to quit after a scam involving on-call payments was exposed.
Officers were alleged to have fleeced SFRS by colluding to claim bogus on-call allowances at an unnamed fire station before they were uncovered.
In a separate incident, a serving officer was also forced to quit after allegedly stealing from a youth volunteer scheme bank account.
The incidents came to light in the SFRS 2023/24 annual audit report.
It says: 'During 2023/24 management alerted the ARAC [Audit Risk Assurance Committee] to two separate incidents involving alleged fraudulent activity. The first involved collusion by serving officers to fraudulently claim on-call allowances at a station.
'Police Scotland were alerted to the alleged activity and a fraud action plan was developed.'
According to the report, those involved in the scam have since quit and that the second incident involved 'alleged theft from a third-party YouthVolunteer Scheme bank account by a serving officer'.
Separately, fire chiefs say they are co-operating with HM Fire Service Inspectorate in Scotland (HMFIS) who are currently investigating SFRS's 'organisational culture' amid fears bullying, sexism and racism are rife within its ranks.
The watchdog opted to broaden the scope of its probe into their 'HR/workforce planning' after evidence of widespread homophobic, harassment and discriminatory behaviour was uncovered within UK fire services.
An investigation into allegations of a toxic culture found fire brigades south of the border were riven with 'pockets of abhorrent behaviour' such as sexist, racist and homophobic language.
HMFIS say their decision to expand the remit of their investigation was triggered by the 'great degree of public interest in the organisational culture of the emergency services across the UK'.
They said: 'The Chief Inspector's plan 2022-25 indicated an intention to carry out an inspection of HR/workforce planning – recruitment, attrition, diversity and skills within the SFRS.
'We have revised our plans for that inspection and have taken the decision to look at wider organisational culture.
'This decision has been influenced by the findings of several reports conducted as a result of serious high-profile incidents regarding the conduct of staff within the emergency service sector, both fire and police, across the United Kingdom.
'Whilst the majority of the cases involving the fire and rescue service have related to services outside Scotland, we believe this is an area of significant public interest and worthy of inspection.'
They added: 'We have amended the scope of our proposed inspection and decided to focus on … the organisational culture within the SFRS.'
Sarah O'Donnell, SFRS Deputy Chief Officer (Corporate Services), said: 'We take a zero-tolerance approach to any form of misconduct and we will thoroughly investigate any claimed breaches of our Code of Conduct or any behaviours that have failed to meet our high standards.
'We know we must foster a culture where we all take accountability for our behaviour and SFRS staff are supported and encouraged to report any concerns about behaviour that breaches our high standards.
'A confidential service has been launched that enables staff to anonymously report concerns freely and without fear.'
DCC O'Donnell added: 'We are cooperating fully with HMFSI on its inspection of our culture and we will act on any recommendations brought forward.'
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