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BBC staff ‘seek racism inquiry’

By Will Bolton

BBC EMPLOYEES have asked for an inquiry into allegations of misogyny and racism at the broadcaster, the chair of a damning review into the culture of the London Fire Brigade (LFB) has said.

Nazir Afzal, the former chief crown prosecutor for the North West, said he had been approached by three employees at the broadcaster, including a presenter, urging him to investigate incidents of “serious concern”.

Mr Afzal also called for a “national inquiry” into racism and misogyny across public services, including in the NHS and police. Speaking in the wake of his report into the LFB, in which he concluded the brigade was “institutionally racist and misogynistic”, Mr Afzal said numerous organisations “pivotal to British society” also needed to be investigated.

He said he had been contacted by three individuals at the BBC, two of whom are production staff and one a presenter. “All three of them talked about their own experiences of racism, misogyny, hate crime and sexism that they’ve experienced,” he said.

“They say they haven’t got any confidence in internal processes. They’re scared about speaking up because they

think, whether true or not, that there will be consequences in terms of their career progression.”

Mr Afzal also revealed he had been approached by NHS staff and members of five different police forces. “They are pivotal to British society, these organisations, and yet there are people within them that are seriously concerned about the way they’re being treated.”

He said that in order for an independent review to take place, the organisation involved had to request it. LFB’s review was commissioned after 21-yearold trainee firefighter Jaden FrancoisEsprit took his own life in 2020 after alleging he was being bullied.

Mr Afzal – a solicitor with decades of experience dealing with high-profile cases of child sexual exploitation and violence against women – said: “The BBC won’t ask me, the NHS won’t ask me. Somebody needs to ask the people who work in these organisations.

“There needs to be a national inquiry, particularly in relation to misogyny, because this is a subject that hasn’t had the attention that it deserves.”

His comments follow the publication of the LFB review, which exposed a culture of misogyny and racism. Over a period of 10 months, a seven-strong team led by Mr Afzal gathered evidence of firefighters’ experiences in their dayto-day working environment.

One black firefighter in the service was subject to racist bullying, which culminated in someone putting a mock noose above his locker.

A female firefighter told the review that the threshold for bullying is so high “you would have to gouge someone’s eyes out to get sacked”, adding: “Everything else is seen as banter.”

She said she tells her female friends not to let male firefighters into their homes to check smoke alarms because they go through women’s drawers looking for underwear and sex toys.

The report team gathered submissions from staff at all levels. While more than 4,500 of the LFB’s 5,000 staff are firefighters, only 425 are women and just over 500 are from ethnic minorities.

The review’s 21 recommendations include a historic review of complaints about racism, misogyny and bullying over the past five years, and secure facilities for women in stations. London fire commissioner Andy Roe said staff face the sack if they are found to have been involved in the “egregious” behaviour.

A BBC spokesman said: “The BBC is a modern and inclusive organisation that seeks to create a culture where everyone can thrive professionally and produce their best work.

“We have a zero tolerance approach and would encourage anyone who has witnessed or been subject to inappropriate behaviour, to report it.”

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2022-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

2022-11-27T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://dailytelegraph.pressreader.com/article/281775633170426

Daily Telegraph