THE LONDON Fire Brigade has announced an independent review into its workplace culture following the death of a black trainee firefighter.

Jaden Francois-Esprit, 21, from Wapping, was training at the Wembley Fire station when he took his own life in August last year. 

In February, coroner Mary Hassell who was leading an inquest into his death revealed that Mr Francois-Esprit was feeling “isolated” at work and that his mental health struggles had gone “undetected by those around him.”

She added: “Action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe that you have the power to take such action.”

The family of Mr Francois-Esprit alleged that he was being unfairly targeted because of his race and that he was ridiculed for bringing in Caribbean food as packed lunch.

However, colleagues at the LFB told the inquest that he was “bored” and “frustrated” by his job but denied claims that he was a victim of bullying.

Speaking to the Evening Standard, Commissioner Andy Roe said Mr Francois-Esprit’s death had sent a “profound shockwave” throughout the LFB.

He expressed that the Francois-Esprit family had “posed some very searching questions to me and to the Brigade” and said the LFB had a responsibility to “get the answers to those questions.”

He added: “It was clear from the coroner’s own advice and recommendations that potential causes for Jaden’s death were quite wide-ranging.

“This is a 21-year-old man who should have felt valued at work, not lonely or bored or unheard. We lost one of our own.

“He was one of our own and I think we have to own that, and the responsibility for making sure we get the answers to those questions.”

With internal data revealing that ethnic minority recruits are less likely to receive a promotion and more likely to be subject to formal and informal discipline, the independent review is expected to examine issues around mental health, race and gender.