Fire chief leaves service after earlier suspension

NORTHUMBERLAND County Council has confirmed that chief fire officer Graeme Binning is no longer an employee of the authority.

- JAMES ROBINSON

Chief Fire Officer Graeme Binning, left, is confirmed to have left Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service. Deputy chief Jim McNeil, right, has retired. Both were suspended in March

Mr Binning was suspended in March after a review of the culture at Northumberland Fire and Rescue Service.

The review, which has not been made public, was commissioned in February after concerns were raised by individuals in the fire service. A decision on Mr Binning’s future was made behind closed doors at a meeting of the county council’s employment appeals committee.