An employment tribunal has ruled that Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service unfairly dismissed a firefighter accused of inappropriate behaviour toward female colleagues, citing significant flaws in both the investigation and disciplinary process. The judge described the inquiry as “fundamentally flawed”, noting that it relied heavily on untested statements, lacked balanced scrutiny of evidence, and failed to consider the wider workplace culture or the credibility of differing accounts.
The tribunal further criticised the service for not adhering to the principles of natural justice, limiting the accused firefighter’s ability to understand and challenge the allegations, and for decision-makers who “unreasonably relied” on earlier findings without meaningful review. The case highlights the need for consistent investigation standards, robust evidence testing, and procedural transparency to ensure that disciplinary actions are both defensible and fair.
