South Wales Fire Service taken over by Welsh Government

Oversight of South Wales Fire and Rescue Service is to be taken over by the Welsh Government, following a damning report into the organisation’s culture.

Four commissioners, appointed by the Welsh Government, will take over the powers of the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority.

Deputy Minister for Social Partnership Hannah Blythyn said: “It is hard to see how South Wales Fire and Rescue Service would be able to make the changes needed, when those currently in post are part of the problem and cannot also be the solution.

“Unless action is taken now, there is also the risk these failures could affect service delivery and put lives at risk.

“I have little, if any, confidence about the likelihood of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority restoring an acceptable standard of management, or of its addressing the wider risks to service delivery and firefighter and public safety.”

Announcing her decision to appoint commissioners in a statement to the Senedd this afternoon, she said the South Wales Chief Fire Officer’s intention to retire is not sufficient to stimulate the wholesale change in processes, values and culture which will be necessary to address the serious cultural issues in the service.

The four appointed commissioners are: Baroness Wilcox, formerly Leader of Newport City Council; Kirsty Williams, formerly Member of the Senedd for Brecon and Radnor; Vij Randeniya, formerly Chief Fire Officer, West Midlands Fire Service; and Carl Foulkes, formerly Chief Constable, North Wales Police.

The commissioners will have powers to restructure and reform the management of the service and a remit to instil a positive and non-discriminatory culture.

An independent report by Fenella Morris KC into South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said the service had a “sexist”, “misogynistic” and “bullying” culture at all levels and was critical of management’s ability to deal with it.

The review was commissioned by Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway QFSM in December 2022 following media reports of abusive behaviour.

Mr Jakeway stepped down and apologised when the report was published.

The Deputy Minister said South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority’s own proposals for implementing the recommendations of the report do not provide any assurance that the underlying problems can or will be addressed.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority had proposed to set up a Culture Review Implementation Committee to oversee the implementation of the recommendations in the report.

But the deputy minister said she had no confidence this would address the underlying weaknesses in governance and stronger intervention was needed