Fire service looks to increase diversity

Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service is actively looking to recruit more staff from BME communities as well as advance more women to senior roles.

The fire service is hoping to make its workforce more reflective of the communities it serves, and the move has been welcomed by unions, who see it as a drive to move away from 'Draconian' recruitment and "institutional racism".

Women make up just over three per cent of the workforce at Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, while just over one per cent is Black, Asian or from another ethnic minority.

The service believe that having a diverse team will be most effective and create a good working environment. A document with the proposed plans said, "We want to ensure that we offer equality of opportunity in employment, and more closely reflect our communities in our workforce.”

Dave Chappell, Exeter-based fire safety officer for the Fire Brigades’ Union, supported the initiative, saying that although issues surrounding racism and sexism were much improved “there’s still a long way to go”.

He added,

“At one stage, only white males of a certain age and size could join the service. There were height limits and even chest size restrictions which practically ruled out women, but that all changed about 20 years ago. I don’t subscribe to the view that 51 per cent of our workforce should be women. Because of the nature of the work it just doesn’t suit everyone, but we have to make sure that people don’t feel that the job is closed off to them because of their gender or ethnicity.”

But Chappell added that the plans were unlikely to see a major recruitment of BME staff as the service is looking to cut numbers thanks to the economic climate.