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Firemen demoted and fined for shining torch on gay foursome in the bushes
Last updated at 06:37am on 04.10.07Firemen who shone their torches at four men they found having sex in bushes have been disciplined by their bosses.
The crew spotted the men engaged in illegal 'dogging' - outdoor sexual activity with strangers - on parkland known as the Downs in Bristol late one night.
After embarrassing the men by pointing their torches at them, the crew continued on their way to their fire station.
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Avon Fire and Rescue Service say they take allegations of homophobia 'very seriously'
But one of the 'doggers' complained to Avon Fire and Rescue, ultimately accusing the four-man crew of being homophobic.
The firemen, who have 26 years of service between them, were then suspended on full pay for three months during an internal investigation.
Yesterday it emerged that two have been fined £1,000 each, another demoted to a rank which will see him forfeit a similar amount of money, while a fourth has received a stern written warning.
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The firemen stumbled upon the session near Circular Road on the Downs, in Bristol.
It is believed Avon Fire and Rescue plans to give the money raised from the fines to a gay rights charity.
Among those being considered is the Jamaican Forum for Lesbians All-Sexuals and Gays.
The crew have been transferred to other stations and ordered to attend an equality course.
But no action has been taken against any of the men believed to have been involved in the dogging.
The one who complained is said to be 'happy' at the outcome of the disciplinary proceedings in which the firemen were charged with bringing the service into disrepute and misuse of fire equipment.
The firemen, formerly members of Avon Fire Service's Blue Watch at Avonmouth station in Bristol, have been banned from discussing the incident, which took place at about 10.30pm on June 27.
But one of their colleagues said yesterday: 'This is a complete farce. All four officers have been let down by their senior officers when they needed their support the most.
'They have been treated as the criminals and it has been forgotten that they witnessed criminal activity occurring in a public place.'
Another fireman said: 'There are a lot of firefighters in Avon who feel the four involved have been treated very unfairly so the service can be seen as being politically correct.'
Fire chiefs were alerted to the incident by the Terrence Higgins Trust, which has supported the man allegedly seen performing the sex act.
Simon Nelson, the charity's acting regional manager, said: 'The member of the public simply wanted to know why the fire service was on the Downs at that time of day. We passed on that complaint.'
Avon's chief fire officer Kevin Pearson said: 'There was no justifiable reason for that appliance to be in that location at that time. They should not have been there and there was no operational justification for their actions.
'We received a complaint about the behaviour of our staff and a full inquiry was conducted as a consequence.
'We investigated and the crew were found to be in breach of our internal policies.'
He added that the investigation would have had the same outcome if the complainant had been heterosexual. The police confirmed they had not been made aware of the incident.
Reader views (17)
PATHETIC PATHETIC, PATHETIC.
This sums up our country and our stupid councilors who run our country. They don`t give a toss for the guys who put thier life on the line on occasions for the likes of them.
Hang on Dogging- Buggery- is this normal and legal now, !!
Can anyone point me to the law/statute book???
Where does it say this is OK
- Martin Harrison, colchester, essex, uk
If this isn't a joke, it is political correctness run amok. I know it is bad in the US, but I thought the English had more common sense.
- Jsens, Eden Prairie, MN, USA
So after two hours and thirty-four minutes I was finally able to convince my mate this wasn't a joke, though I have doubts. I still can't believe this is real. This is typical of the country now, an innocent gets done for discovering an illegal act because the crybabies want their own way. And I'm sorry I don't care if they're gay they committed an illegal act and probably ruined four lives because of it. Well I hope the 'doggers' are ashamed of themselves. The firemen have to go through all this training now, have been fined a lot of money and for what? So in future when I discover an illegal act I'll leave it alone. The mentality of this country will get me done for trying to be good. Philip, never mind the USA, China is probably better than us regarding human rights! Makes me even madder Labour has cancelled its election. Something fishy about that, aye? Cliff, you're very right, and not just children, anyone. No one needs to see sex outside like that in a public place. I just don't understand people who say the firemen were in the wrong, because how were they? It wasn't even a homophobic act anyway I think some people need to grow up because the right people weren't demoted. Cases like these make people homophobic.
- Sarah Flaherty, Ormskirk, UK
I see that Political Correctness has now made two wrongs into a right. If this doesn't tell us that the tail is wagging the dog in contemporary society, both in the UK and USA, then the sky is not blue. As an addendum, Political Correctness is an act of cowardice. It appears all one can get in trouble for today is telling the truth.
- William A. Torchia, Esquire, Philadelphia USA
I am absolutely disgusted that these firemen have been treated in such a shabby way. They only did what any right minded person would/should have done. Just shows how small minded and lacklustre their bosses must be.
Avon Rescue should hang its head in shame, and hopefully the Union will fight this tooth and nail.
What if children had stumbled across this lewd and depraved scene.
I for one would have hosed them down with a 4" branch on full power.
- Cliff, Kent
And I thought our country was bad.
- Philip, Houston, USA
Not too many years ago, when I was still a serving Police Officer, we were told by our Inspector not to patrol the area of a public toilet, notorious for 'cottaging' during the hours of daylight. We were not to 'harass' anyone there. I told him that I would continue to Police the area as long as it was an offence and that there was the possibility that children might view what was going on. He was not happy about me saying this to him in front of the rest of the shift. A local councillor had recently been caught at the site 'indulging'. I was never sure if this was the reason for our being ordered to stop.
- Paul Bradford, Monflanquin, France
This causing one to question the meaning of justice. The only message I see being sent here is that crimminals have more rights than law abiding citizens! I am concerned.
- Lee Townsend, London, England
Police can't save drowning children; firemen can't interrupt public sexual activity; cardboard police are being used to deter shoplifting. I sometimes think I'm on an acid trip.
- R M, London, UK
Strange things these firemen get up to while on duty...they'll be posing naked for a calendar next! Odd behaviour.
- Mm, London
So if a fireman comes across someone being raped or murdered they should pass on by. Whether you agree with the law or not these men were breaking the law and the firemen were correct to highlight it. Whether or not the law needs changing is for a different forum to decide.
- Ben, London
Surely the fireman can now report the 4 men for gross public indecency?
- Stuart, UK
Maybe they'd heard about some out of control hoses and were checking on them?
- Terry Roll, London
This is absolutely barmy. They shouldn't be disciplined. The men having sex in public were committing a criminal offence and should be prosecuted. The firemen should have called the police if anything. Political correctness gone mad, and I hope the firemen appeal this bizarre judgement.
- Huw Morgan, London, UK
A sign of how insane some people are. The fact that people regardless of being homosexual or heterosexual are involved in sex acts in public is the issue, not the fact they were spotted by firemen.
Why are these people not arrested and charged with public exposure and indecency? Sounds like someone is being biased towards gay people instead of being neutral.
- Rafa, London
Forget Labour or the Conservatives. Political correctness now runs the UK.
- Phil Jones, London, UK
Sad, sad, sad. Who is guilty the accused or the accusers?
- Monica, Portsmouth
