Latest news with #SimonHardiman
BBC News
24-07-2025
- BBC News
Shropshire fire bosses plan social media rules after scandal
Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority has discussed updating its social media rule book in the wake of a WhatsApp scandal that engulfed two senior male chief fire officer Simon Hardiman and assistant chief fire officer Adam Matthews were put through an independent investigation in 2024 following claims that they sent sexist messages on Matthews resigned, and Mr Hardiman returned to his post in September last year with a written warning and a mandatory training requirement following that light of the investigation, a meeting in Telford on Wednesday saw the fire authority propose a draft social media protocol. Last year auditors told the fire authority that they had "been unable to find a social media policy" and if there was one "there is scope for it to be provided so that it is adhered to". Elected members of the authority had asked to be included in a new protocol. The policy refers to social media and social networking sites, including draft policy said: "It should be remembered that the use of WhatsApp by members of staff should be in line with the service's core values and workplace charter."Even on a personal device/account, may become disclosable evidence in legal hearings or public inquests."It added that "WhatsApp is currently not a corporate tool and should not be used as a formal method of communication due to issues such as security, [General Data Protection Regulation] and [Freedom of Information] requests. "We would encourage staff to use [Microsoft] Teams to communicate with their colleagues."The new protocol applies to the use of social media for both business and personal purposes, whether during work hours or draft protocol also added that "all employees are responsible for their own actions in the use of social media". This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority told change needed after scandal
Auditors have urged a fire authority to introduce a change of culture after a chief officer and his deputy were investigated over WhatsApp messages which were offensive towards conversations, reportedly leaked to ITV News last year, were said to involve Shropshire's chief fire officer Simon Hardiman and his assistant Adam MatthewsIn them, they described women they work with as "lazy cow[s]" and "useless", during exchanges over more than a Hardiman was given a written warning, but allowed to return to work, whilst Mr Matthews stepped down before an investigation had concluded last autumn. The auditors, Grant Thornton, said Shropshire and Wrekin Fire Authority "followed its own processes and appropriately investigated these matters" in relation to the WhatsApp a report by auditors, due to be discussed at a meeting of the fire authority on Tuesday, said it could find no evidence of an existing social media policy and that one needed to be said one was needed "to ensure that it avoids adverse impacts through inappropriate use of social media by officers".They said they were "not satisfied" that some of the "leadership demonstrated appropriate behaviours" and that it showed "a significant weakness in the fire authority's arrangement to ensure appropriate standards and behaviours". Leading by example It recommended the fire authority "develop and implement an action plan for promoting the right values and culture".It said this should include "ensuring that senor officers lead by example and act as role models".The auditors said a wide range of issues picked up by inspectors in 2021 had not been dealt with and this continued into also revealed the fire authority has been dealing with some "potential employment related claims" and should work to estimate their likely financial report did not reveal whether any employment claims have been made against the authority, or who they consider might make a claim in the future.A spokesperson for the fire service and the fire authority said it "accepts the external auditors report and have submitted management actions to meet the recommendations in full".This news was gathered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, which covers councils and other public service organisations. Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
