Buckinghamshire firefighters have slammed the decision to hire their former chief fire officer in the same role in a neighbouring county - calling out the “damaging and divisive culture he created” during his tenure at Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Mark Jones was Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s chief fire officer (CFO) from 2010 to 2015, but he was appointed as Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service’s CFO on July 6.

The Fire Brigade’s Union (FBU) has levelled criticisms at Mr Jones, with Buckinghamshire members claiming he threatened firefighters with dismissal for taking part in industrial action and oversaw “damaging” cuts by refusing to raise extra funding for the service, which they say led to a 43 per cent reduction in firefighter numbers between 2010 and 2021.

The union is also critical that Mr Jones is being rehired after retiring from a previous CFO position and receiving pension benefits.

Adam Taylor, Fire Brigades Union regional secretary for East Midlands region, said: “We are astounded by the decision taken by Northamptonshire’s Police Fire and Crime Commissioner to employ a new chief fire officer with a track record as Mark Jones has, leaving our members far and wide angered with this decision.

“Furthermore we are incredibly frustrated with this appointment, by appointing an already retired chief fire officer, this stifles the development and career progression of our members in Northamptonshire fire and rescue service and more broadly in the UK fire and rescue service.”

Mr Jones is expected to take up his new role in Northamptonshire in October. He is currently based in Australia, where he is Chief Officer of the South Australia Country Fire Service.

He was named as the “preferred candidate” for the role in Northamptonshire and the county’s Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner Stephen Mold said feedback throughout the recruitment process “consistently showed that Mark is a strong leader with a clear approach”.

Mr Mold said: “The greatest asset that Northamptonshire Fire and Rescue Service has is its people – firefighters and staff who have worked so hard to transform the service since they transferred to my governance.

“I hope we will see the positive results of all their efforts reflected in the HMICFRS report soon and my belief is that the service has significantly improved the way it keeps the people of Northamptonshire safe.

“The current Chief Fire Officer Darren Dovey is retiring soon so it was important to recruit a new CFO who will be able to continue this positive improvement in the service while also steering cultural change. We need to ensure NFRS is an organisation that not only keeps the county safe, but where everyone who works there can be comfortable and successful and be respected for who they are.

“Following an open recruitment process, Mark Jones was selected as the candidate who will take forward further improvements in both service and culture.

“I am aware of the situation that Buckinghamshire FBU are referring to, but those historic issues are entirely a matter for Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service and Buckinghamshire FBU.”