Suffolk County Council to commit £1.6m after Government inspectors told of bullying of fire service staff

An authority is being asked to commit £1.6 million after fire service staff told Government inspectors they were bullied and belittled.

Last month, inspectors from His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) published their report on the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

Although inspectors found the service's work on preventing fire and risk and ensuring public safety through fire regulation to be good, they highlighted serious concerns about the culture within it.

According to the inspectors, staff members reported being belittled, dismissed and bullied.

On Tuesday, cabinet members at Suffolk County Council will be asked to commit £1.6 million over two years to address the recommendations made by the inspectors.

The money will come from the council's 2025/26 transformation fund and be bolstered by £106,000 in savings made by the service, to be reinvested into the areas for improvement.

The inspection report found the service was inadequate at promoting its values and culture.

According to council papers, inadequate ratings are given after 'serious critical failings of policy, practice or performance'.

Following the report, Jon Lacey, Suffolk's chief fire officer, said any reports of bad behaviours were not 'brushed under the carpet' and stressed problems were not widespread or systemic, instead being confined to smaller pockets of staff.

Some of the actions the money will help fund include extra training, a phased leadership development programme and an independent confidential report looking into the reasons behind staff not being confident to raise issues.

The service is also committing to increase awareness of the ways staff can report their concerns, with clear follow-ups on which actions were taken as a result of the reports.

Suffolk's fire service is due for another inspection in 2027.