Social media house rules

We welcome and encourage open dialogue across our Scottish Fire and Rescue Service social media channels.

To ensure we maintain a respectful and inclusive environment for everyone, we ask all users to follow our house rules when engaging with our content.

We welcome different opinions, but please keep comments constructive and on-topic.

1. Be respectful

• Treat others with courtesy and respect.
• Avoid personal attacks, offensive language, or discriminatory remarks based on race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic.
  
  

2. No hate speech or abuse

• We will not tolerate hate speech, threats, harassment, or abusive behaviour.
• Content that incites violence or promotes harmful stereotypes will be removed.
  
  

3. Support for staff

• We are committed to protecting our staff from online abuse. Any comments targeting individuals in a harmful or disrespectful manner will be removed, and further action may be taken in line with our moderation and safeguarding policies.
  
  

4. No spam or advertising

• Do not post spam, promotional content, or links to third-party websites unless directly relevant to the discussion.
  
  

5. Protect privacy

• Do not share personal information (yours or others’) such as addresses, phone numbers, or private correspondence.
  
  

6. No misinformation

• Avoid sharing false or misleading information. We reserve the right to remove content that spreads misinformation, especially on sensitive topics like health, safety, or public services.
  
  

7. Moderation and enforcement

• We reserve the right to hide or delete comments and block users who breach these rules.
• Repeated violations may result in a permanent ban from our channels.
  
  

8. Stay on topic

• Keep comments relevant to the original post or discussion.
• Off-topic or repetitive posts may be removed to maintain clarity and focus.
  
  

9. Legal and ethical standards

• All engagement must comply with applicable laws and duties, including the Equality Act 2010 and the Public Sector Equality Duty, which require us to promote equality, prevent discrimination, and foster good relations.
• We are also committed to transparency and accountability in line with the Public Services Reform (Scotland) Act 2010, which underpins our approach to public engagement and responsible communication.

• We aim to respond to queries within 24 hours (Monday–Friday), and we’ll always treat you with respect and fairness. We welcome constructive feedback and will do our best to help or signpost you to the right place.
• We strive to make our content and engagement accessible to all. If you encounter barriers, please let us know so we can improve.

If you see a comment that concerns you or breaks these rules, please report it to us via SFRS.Website@firescotland.gov.uk