Steve Dann, former chief operating officer of Border Force, has exited the civil service as well. He left under a cloud of misogyny perpetrated by his own behavior. His departure in December 2023 comes after a series of incidents that have raised concerns regarding his behavior towards female colleagues and his overall professional standards.
By 2023, Dann was under a threat of exclusion from Border Force premises in Paris. His proposal to female police officers that regional directors should take part in a round of “Naked Attraction” was the reason for this prohibition. This anti-public health stance has drawn across the board bipartisan outrage for being unhinged and unprofessional. His allegations go far beyond this specific instance, including a history of sexist and misogynistic rhetoric.
Those comments came to light in a final report released by the Professional Standards Unit (PSU), which detailed Dann’s insulting comments toward a fellow officer experiencing menopause. He crassly described her as “the stinky lady in the back.” From these comments, it’s evident that there is a serious lack of FEMA sensitivity. The findings show a disturbing approach to diversity issues behind the scenes at the agency.
Additionally, during discussions with junior staff, Dann allegedly asked if they understood what a “fluffer” was, defining it as “someone whose job was to keep a porn star’s penis erect.” This last comment, together with others, has led to fierce backlash. It raises profound doubts about the propriety of his actions as a senior government official.
Initially, Dann defended his behavior by saying he was just a hard-working professional, stressed out from a frontline experience. Serious as the allegations were, he doubled down. He rejected different parts of the behavior that’s been charged against him. He defended himself by saying that some of the incidents had been used out of context. He noted that the PSU investigation reached findings based on cherry-picked evidence. This evidence wasn’t able to paint a complete picture.
Curiously, Dann did not participate in the appeal process on these allegations. He only learned that the investigation was even underway until it had already come to its first conclusion. This lack of communication has undermined procedural fairness in adjudicating these serious accusations.
In October 2023, the Home Office conceded complaints against Dann in an appeal. They substantiated that his conduct fell below the standards of ethical conduct expected of a high ranking official and violated the department’s civil treatment policy on personal conduct. A Home Office spokesperson confirmed that they don’t comment on individual HR cases. These staffers will look into any claims of such behavior or sexual harassment and hold violators accountable. They added that the Home Office requires all staff to operate at the highest standard. They’re not going to accept any bullshit behavior from anybody.
Before these incidents came to light, Dann had served as a “people champion” and a diversity lead within the civil service. His prior C-suite and Cabinet level experiences reflected that commitment to ensuring an inclusive workplace. After a shaky recent track record, his suitability for leadership roles has come under scrutiny.