FPA Unveils Core Code Of Ethics For Fire And Rescue Services

Fire organizations have come together for the first time to create a Core Code of Ethics based on the Nolan Principles that puts supporting communities first. The National Fire Chiefs Council, Local Government Association, and Association of Police and Crime Commissioners have jointly published a Core Code of Ethics that sits alongside a new Fire Standard.

This is in response to one of the recommendations made by Sir Tom Winsor in his State of Fire and Rescue reports. The Fire Minister, Lord Greenhalgh tweeted on the day of publication: “This is an important milestone on the road to reform.”

five ethical principles

The Core Code sets out five ethical principles, which provide a basis for promoting good behavior and challenging inappropriate behavior. These are based on the Nolan Principles of Public Life:

• Putting communities first – Putting the interest of the public, the community, and service users first.
• Integrity – Act with integrity including being open, honest, and consistent in everything we do.
• Dignity and respect - Making decisions objectively based on evidence, without discrimination or bias.
• Leadership – Strive to be positive role models, always demonstrating flexibility and resilient leadership.
• Equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) – Continually recognize and promote the value of EDI both within the FRSs and the wider communities.

Staff behavior

Mark Hardingham, Chair of the National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC), explained, “The Core Code is explicit in its expectations relating to the behaviors of staff at all levels within fire and rescue services. It is intended that the principles will be embedded within everything that fire and rescue services and their employees do."

promote equality, diversity, and inclusion

Effective implementation of the Core Code’s principles will assure that inappropriate behavior will be challenged

Roger Hirst, Police Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex is the APCC lead for this work. He took on the governance of Essex County Fire and Rescue Service in 2017 after an independent cultural review led by former senior civil servant Irene Lucas found it to be a ‘toxic’ and ‘dysfunctional’ organization. 

He said, “I am confident effective implementation of the Core Code’s principles will provide existing and future employees, as well as the public, with the assurance that inappropriate behavior will be challenged and that services will continually recognize and promote the value of equality, diversity, and inclusion internally and in the wider communities they serve.”

ethical codes

Fire and rescue services are expected to adopt the Code and will initially carry out a gap analysis with their existing behavioral frameworks, values, and cultural approaches.

Mr. Hardingham continues, “The detail within it, alongside the supporting guidance and the associated Fire Standard, will help ensure the Core Code becomes fully embedded in everything fire and rescue services do, enhanced by their own locally adopted ethical codes and behaviors.”

Cllr Nick Chard, LGA lead for the Code of Ethics, said, “Ultimately, this core code aspires to ensure we have a positive and diverse working culture within the fire and rescue service, making it a great place to work for everyone, while also maintaining public trust and confidence in fire and rescue services.”