TWO Welsh fire services are in “desperate need of lasting change at the top,” said the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) today after damning reports found widespread bullying and harassment at both.

An independent report described Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service as an “operational boys’ club” after staff reported that people who do triathlon or cycling with senior leaders were more likely to get promoted.

Nearly half the service’s staff reported personal experience of bullying or harassment and 54 per cent said they had witnessed such behaviours.

A separate report by the North Wales Fire and Rescue Services found 42 per cent of survey respondents reported personal experiences of bullying or harassment and nearly half said they had witnessed them.

Senior leaders at both fire brigades have apologised and said they will do more to make sure staff feel supported.

The two investigations were commissioned in March 2024 following allegations of bullying, sexual harassment and favouritism.

FBU executive council member for Wales Gareth Tovey said that the culture reviews “point to systemic failures in senior management.”

He called for urgent action to tackle misogyny in both services, warning that their senior leaders “continue to preside over a ‘boys’ club,’ resisting change and creating a culture of fear and mistrust.

“We cannot expect the same leaderships who have presided over these problems to solve them — and the FBU is ready to play a leading role in transforming our service.”

FBU assistant general secretary Ben Selby said: “Fire service leaders are failing to protect workforces across the UK.

“Since 2010, cuts to firefighter numbers and the scrapping of diversity targets has contributed to a stalling of progress on equalities.”

The Welsh government was accused of failing to hold fire services to account at the Senedd debate today.

Plaid Cymru MS Peredur Griffiths said: “It appears that successive Labour ministers with a responsibility for fire services in Wales have not been successful in holding fire brigades to account.”

Housing and Local Government cabinet secretary Jayne Bryant said: “I’ve set out that my expectation is that clear and decisive action should be taken immediately to dismantle these damaging cultures and ensure staff feel safe and valued in their workplace.”

She said legislation will be used to create long-term reform of fire services.