Which will be trashed next?

A RECENT report moves the spotlight on to the fire and rescue services just after the Met was found guilty as charged of institu‐tional racism, misogyny and homophobia in a similarly condemnatory report that showed public confidence in the force at rock bottom.

According to this latest scathing review, there may be ‘predators’ like Wayne Couzens lurking in the fire service’s shad‐ows as the toxic culture uncovered was ‘just the tip of the iceberg’. Examples of this ‘hotbed of racism, misogyny and ho‐mophobia’ included firefighters acting out a rape, expecting women to make tea and viewing racist language as ‘having a laugh’.

A ‘hotbed of racism, misogyny and ho‐mophobia’: seriously? Then we read that ‘some’ examples of unacceptable conduct were found in only 11 of the 44 fire ser‐vices. But, we are assured, this ‘could be’ the ‘tip of an iceberg’. So, no evidence was found in 33 out 44 services.

How on earth is that rampant? More likely it ‘could be’ a report determined to trash the reputation of the entire fire ser‐vice. And yet another lesson in how to de‐ moralise the vast majority of firefighters, police officers etc who are honest and do a hard job very well.

Which British institution is going to be trashed next week? This is getting beyond ridiculous. There seems to be a growing appetite to label all our public services as racist, homophobic and sexist. Largely, it would seem, from those who like to feel morally superior while sitting safely behind their desks. God forbid they actually get out of their chairs and contemplate putting their own safety at risk for others (remem‐ber Grenfell?). And then they wonder why these services struggle to recruit and retain good people!

Firstly, firefighters do a difficult and dan‐gerous job ‐ nobody doubts this. Nobody says otherwise. Firefighters demonstrate bravery, courage, self sacrifice etc. They can be, and frequently are, saints, but that is not a job requirement. The willingness to run towards a fire when everyone else is running away, and to keep returning until everyone inside has been rescued and the fire extinguished, as well as a technical in‐sight into controlling fires from different sources, are the primary characteristics. We are fortunate that such men and wom‐en exist and put their lives on the line for us. They may not always behave as squeaky‐clean choristers, but they get the job done.

All our public services are being attacked one after another by the same band of people. It has to be stopped. This is a total waste of public money pandering to the politically correct and woke movement. Who next?

First it’s the Met, now it’s the fire and rescue services throughout Britain. Where will other revelations of racism, misogyny and bullying in sordid corners of British so‐ciety be exposed next? The NHS? The Coastguard? The Monarchy?

Good grief, are the justices of self‐righ‐teousness making it their mission to de‐nounce every last British public service as ‘hotbeds’ of bad behaviour? How pro ‐foundly demotivating for the many fine staff members in all our emergency ser‐vices.

How I love being told who to dislike ev‐ery week! Who do I get to hate next week?

Nora Johnson’s 12 critically acclaimed psychological suspense crime thrillers (www.nora‐johnson.net) all available on‐line including eBooks (€0.99; £0.99), Apple Books, audiobooks, paperbacks at Ama‐zon etc. Profits to Cudeca cancer charity.