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Article: Damning new report criticises 'racist and sexist' fire service
- Article from:
- The Evening Standard (London, England)
- Article date:
- September 16, 1999
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright 1999 Evening Standard - London. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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A DEVASTATING official report today on the fire service says it is
a closed, militaristic organisation pervaded by racism, sexism and a
culture of fear and mistrust.
The Fire Service Inspectorate says brigades around the country,
including London's, are white, male-dominated macho organisations
from which ethnic minorities, women and gays are largely excluded
because they are perceived as outsiders who won't "fit in".
Although many brigades pay lip service to equal opportunity
policies, the reality is very different and the inspectors say they
found some of the prejudice they encountered "difficult to believe".
Firefighters, including some very senior officers, referred to
female colleagues ...