The Suffolk Hyde Affair - Doc 95 Suffolk Firefighter

Suffolk County Council

Fire Service

Sub Officer J A Tiffen
C/O Station16, Normanshurst
Lowestoft

KES/Tiffen/SIS
ACFO Seager
(01473) 588939
12th April 1999

Dear Sub Officer Tiffen,

Fire services (Discipline) Regulations, 1985

I refer to the Regulation 7 notice served on you on 1st March 1999, and the subsequent investigation carried out on my behalf by Divisional Officer Graham Smith.

Having studied the findings of DO Smith’s investigation very closely, and having considered carefully how best to deal with your case, I have decided that I will NOT bring a formal charge or charges against you on this occasion.

I must point out, however, that I am satisfied that your actions in this matter have fallen well short of the standards expected of a Sub Officer, and at the very least your failure to seek advice when faced with an overt challenge to your authority as watch officer borders on a neglect of duty.

I shall be discussing with the Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Operations) what managerial action we should take in your case to address these shortcomings. In the near future, I shall be summoning you to an interview at these Headquarters at which I intend to make my displeasure known and to advise you of the managerial actions we intend to take.

I enclose 2 copies of this letter. One is for you to retain and I would suggest you pass it to your Union representative. The other copy should be signed where shown and returned to me in the envelope provided.
If you have any queries about the content of this letter, please contact me at these Headquarters.

Yours sincerely

K. E. Seager,
Assistant Chief Fire Officer (Technical)
Brigade Investigating Officer

Enc 2 copy letters
…………………………………………………………………………………………..........................................

From: Sub Officer J A Tiffen

Date…………………………….

I have received a copy of this letter dated 12th April 1999. I confirm that I fully understand the contents thereof.

Signed…………………………