A senior Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service (DWFRS) officer has been suspended from duty.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) Byron Standen was temporarily removed from his role on Wednesday (17 November) after a number of ‘serious allegations’ were made against him.
In a confidential email obtained by Wiltshire 999s, Chief Fire Officer Ben Ansell told of how the suspension was a “precautionary measure to protect all staff, including ACFO Standen, whilst a full and thorough investigation takes place”.
Affected staff have been asked to make direct contact with South West Councils, the organisation responsible for undertaking an independent investigation into the allegations.
Mr Ansell said the senior officer is prohibited from contacting DWFRS staff or visiting any work premises. He also advised members of staff not to contact the ACFO whilst the investigation is ongoing.
The email continued: “ACFO Standen has been advised that, under the terms of his suspension, he should not attend any DWFRS workplace or make contact with any member of staff other than his Contact Officer, ACFO Andy Cole.
“Similarly, all members of staff are advised they should not make contact with ACFO Standen.”
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service labelled the allegations as “serious”, and said it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.
“DWFRS take the health, safety and wellbeing of our workforce extremely seriously and we are supporting all those involved in the investigation process”, a spokesperson commented.
Byron Standen began his fire service career in 1992 and became Assistant Chief Fire Officer in March 2019, according to the service’s website. He is believed to live in Salisbury.
