Use of social media
Case reference FOI2025/00716
Received 11 July 2025
Published 6 August 2025
Request
I am requesting the following information: ⸻ 1. Policy & Guidance • Please provide the LFB’s current policy or internal guidance on the use of social media (particularly TikTok and similar platforms) by operational staff while on duty. • Does this policy explicitly cover: • Filming while inside fire stations? • Recording when an emergency call comes in? • Filming while riding in or operating fire appliances? • Filming at live incident scenes? • Filming or posting videos that include other identifiable staff? ⸻ 2. Monitoring & Regulation • What monitoring or controls are in place to regulate social media use by operational personnel while on duty? • Have any internal bulletins, updates, or memos been issued in the last 2 years addressing this issue, particularly concerning TikTok use? ⸻ 3. Disciplinary Action • How many cases in the past 3 years have involved: • Inappropriate social media use while on duty, • Recording videos inside stations or during emergency calls, • Posting from live incidents, • Sharing content that identifies other staff without consent? • Please include the nature of any disciplinary outcomes where applicable. ⸻ 4. Training & Awareness • Is appropriate use of social media covered during: • Recruit training? • Ongoing or refresher training for serving firefighters? • Is any guidance or training provided on consent, privacy, and safeguarding related to filming colleagues?
Response
1. Policy & Guidance • Please provide the LFB's current policy or internal guidance on the use of social media (particularly TikTok and similar platforms) by operational staff while on duty.
Policy attached.
• Does this policy explicitly cover: • Filming while inside fire stations?
Yes. Filming inside fire stations is acceptable as long as the Station Commander and Watch are comfortable, it does not impede emergency response
. • Recording when an emergency call comes in?
Yes. Recording a shout is fine as long as it does not interfere preparation for mobilisation.
• Filming while riding in or operating fire appliances?
Yes. As long as this is hands-free and meets GDPR requirements.
• Filming at live incident scenes?
Yes. Only those with a press liaison officer tag or those authorised by the incident commander can take images at an incident while the incident is in progress.
• Filming or posting videos that include other identifiable staff?
No. This would be covered by GDPR.
2. Monitoring & Regulation • What monitoring or controls are in place to regulate social media use by operational personnel while on duty?
The Communications Team monitor Yammer and the LFB Borough and other officially affiliated social media accounts. It is the responsibility of individuals to ensure their use of personal social media accounts doesn't breach the LFB social-media policy.
• Have any internal bulletins, updates, or memos been issued in the last 2 years addressing this issue, particularly concerning TikTok use?
The Communications Team responded to a question on Yammer about social media guidance on 17 April 2025. Advice on using social media is also available on Hotwire via our Digital Team including the LFB's social media policy. On Hotwire you can also find specific information, support and advice about setting up New official social media accounts.
On February 24, 2022 a communications message from the then Commissioner was sent to all staff about the misuse of social media and messaging apps - Brigade Wide Documents - 220224 - Misuse of social media and messaging apps.msg - All Documents
3. Disciplinary Action
· How many cases in the past 3 years have involved:
o Inappropriate social media use while on duty,
6 cases.
o Recording videos inside stations or during emergency calls,
5 or less.
o Posting from live incidents,
5 or less.
o Sharing content that identifies other staff without consent?
There have been no related cases.
o Please include the nature of any disciplinary outcomes where applicable.
Sanctions were given in 5 or less cases, due to the potentially identifiable nature further information cannot be shared.
4. 4. Training & Awareness
· Is appropriate use of social media covered during:
o Recruit training?
Yes. The appropriate use of social media is covered as part of a Trainee firefighter (TFF) induction welcome day and is featured within the welcome day booklet given to each TFF. It is then also covered as part of the cyber security training delivered on the first day of training by LFB trainers at Barking training centre. There is also a section within the TFF Code of conduct which references appropriate use of social media.
o Ongoing or refresher training for serving firefighters?
All LFB staff are regularly reminded of our values and have online access to all polices. Social media is a topic which is including in the ongoing supervision of staff, and it does feature within the cyber security training package which forms part of the corporate mandatory training with an annual requirement for this training to be refreshed.
o Is any guidance or training provided on consent, privacy, and safeguarding related to filming colleagues?
There is guidance provided by the communications team especially when it comes to the use of social media accounts linked to the LFB (borough X accounts etc). The Social media policy for the London fire brigade also covers this to.
Documents
This is London Fire Brigade's response to a freedom of information (FOI) or environmental information regulations (EIR) request.
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