SUFFOLK County Council leaders have backed a £1.6 million investment into the fire service after Government inspectors were told staff had been bullied and belittled.

Felixstowe councillor Steve Wiles, the lead for public health and protection, asked other county council cabinet members to agree to invest £1.6 million over two years into Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS).

The bid for money followed findings revealed in February by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS).

Although inspectors found the service's work on preventing fire and risk and ensuring public safety through fire regulation to be good, they highlighted serious concerns about the culture within.

Cllr Wiles, along with several other councillors present, congratulated the service on the work they do and promised the money was a 'significant and necessary' step in ensuring the inspectors' comments were addressed.

He said: "The safety and security of Suffolk residents and the wellbeing of our firefighters demands decisive and, if possible, immediate action.

"Together we are striving for a service that is resiliant and continues to hold the trust of the people it serves."

February's report concluded the service was inadequate at promoting its values and culture after staff members reported being belittled, dismissed and bullied.

According to council papers, inadequate ratings are given after 'serious critical failings of policy, practice or performance'.

The money, given unanimous support by members taken primarily from the council's 2025/26 transformation fund, will be used to implement several measures within authority's action plan.

These include extra training, a phased leadership development programme and an independent confidential report looking into the reasons behind staff not being confident to raise issues.

The service is also committed to increasing awareness of the ways staff can report their concerns, with clear follow-ups on which actions were taken as a result of the reports.

Following the inspection, Jon Lacey, Suffolk's chief fire officer, said any reports of bad behaviour were not 'brushed under the carpet' and stressed problems were not widespread or systemic, instead being confined to smaller pockets of staff.

During the meeting, he highlighted staff had been under 'unprecedented stress' while the inspection was ongoing last year and promised, as part of the new measures, he would personally oversee several aspects of the plan's delivery.

He said piling money into the problem was not the only answer and committed to ensuring cultural shifts around changing behaviours, staff education, and treating people with dignity and respect would be carried out.

Suffolk's fire service is due for another inspection in 2027.