‘In the darkest hour our response fell far short of what people have a right to expect’
GREATER Manchester’s new fire chief has apologised ‘unreservedly’ for the failings of the brigade management during the region’s ‘darkest hour’.
And deputy mayor Bev Hughes has been asked to carry out a full review of the fire service after fire crews did not attend the scene of the atrocity until two hours six minutes after the attack.
In a statement, interim County Fire Officer Dawn Docx said: “The 22nd May 2017 was Greater Manchester’s darkest hour and it is clear that our response fell far short of that which the people of Greater Manchester have a right to expect. I apologise unreservedly for that. There were clearly failures in leadership and poor decisions made. As a result firefighters themselves, desperate on the night to attend the incident, were also let down by their senior colleagues.
“It is because of them that this report was commissioned in the first place and I want to thank them for raising their concerns. I also want to apologise to all of our workforce who demonstrate day-in and day-out their bravery and commitment to keeping the people of Greater Manchester safe.”
Ms Docx told our sister paper the M.E.N.: “They (firefighters) were very, very upset about this issue and they were desperate to respond that night, and that’s why they did bring the issue to the mayor’s attention.”
She said she wanted to help rebuild morale in the brigade.
“I think I’ve got a great opportunity in many respects because I come new to Greater Manchester Fire Service. I think what I can bring is a different style in my leadership, I think it is quite evident that I don’t have an aggressive, macho style.
“I am someone who likes to listen, and to understand and to think, and I think that will be very beneficial to changing the way that we all work together in Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.”
Asked what she thought were the main failings on the night, she said: “I think it’s that lack of communication, and the using of existing channels of communication, and they failed on the night and I’m sure there could have been a better awareness had a senior officer gone to the police headquarters that night.”
Speaking of the brigade’s front line firefighters, she said: “I know they are very committed, I know they are trained well. I do have faith in them.”
The brigade nationally is regarded as a pioneering one in modernising the service, but Ms Docx admitted that the debacle of May 22 has damaged it.
“There have been a lot of initiatives that Greater Manchester has been in the forefront of, certainly our work with our health colleagues, it has been very inspirational, and that is why it feels all the more humiliating that we didn’t respond as we should have done in this incident.”
She conceded that morale among crews had been damaged.
“It has been hit,” she said. “To not be able to respond when Greater Manchester was in its greatest need must be very demoralising, but we have got to pick ourselves up, and use all the talents we have to make sure we are serving the public well.”
Ms Docx has served for 23 years in the fire service, firstly in Cumbria and then North Wales, where she was Deputy County Fire Officer for eight years, before joining Greater Manchester in December.
Asked if she would want the top job in Greater Manchester full-time, she said: “Of course I would.”
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham said he had launched a ‘root and branch’ review of the entire service adding: “It is clear that on the night the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service fell well short of the high standards it sets itself.”
But he said he wanted all frontline officers to know ‘this report is in no way a criticism of them or designed to undermine them.’
“Rather it’s to help me and the deputy mayors to fulfil our duties and duties of care to our frontline staff to ensure they are at all times supported.”
Asked whether disciplinary action would have been taken against former fire chief Peter O’Reilly had he not retired last month, Mr Burnham did not answer directly, insisting the Lord Kerslake report was not about scapegoating individuals.
Mr O’Reilly announced in September, four months after the bomb, that he was stepping down after ‘much soul searching.’ He had endured calls from rank-and-file crews to go after the Arena failings.
The M.E.N. called at his home in Salford, but a family member said he did not wish to comment on the Kerslake Report.
Asked if Mr O’Reilly had received a full lump sum and pension package on retirement Mr Burnham said: “It was not a decision for us to make.”
Reacting to the report, GMP Chief Constable Ian Hopkins said the priority was to save lives, despite possible further attack.
He said the force was faced with an ‘immense and unprecedented situation’ and praised the response of officers on the ground and in senior command positions.