Further official misconduct question

[gh0st]

Once you leave the force, are you still requested to keep quiet about how things and the law works from the "inside" or are you still obliged to keep it shut?

I imagine anyone working for the SCP's need to be kept silenced as if the public knew the sheer amount of cashflow being wasted.... :mad:

[gopher]

Well we've had at least 2 ex CC's saying speed cams are rubbish just after retiring from a force that were using them, I just wish more of them would say something when in service!

Cheers

Paul

[turbobloke]

gopher said:

Well we've had at least 2 ex CC's saying speed cams are rubbish just after retiring from a force that were using them, I just wish more of them would say something when in service! Cheers Paul

Too right, Paul Garvin and Della Cannings are merely voicing the views of many other cc's who are too busy looking over their shoulder to see the truth in front of their eyes.

[julianhj]

You sign the Official Secrets Act on entry IIRC, so that has certain coverage, but wouldn't apply to stuff like money being wasted/poor planning and policy, I think.

[streaky]

julianhj said:

You sign the Official Secrets Act on entry IIRC, so that has certain coverage, but wouldn't apply to stuff like money being wasted/poor planning and policy, I think.

But you'd be wrong to think that. Also, any confidentiality clause in your contract of employment will survive termination (of the contract, and by whatever means) ... subject to the information not being at the time in the public domain - Streaky

[kevinday]

The Official Secrets Act applies to all UK citizens from the moment of birth until death, regardless of signing any piece of paper. Whatever is in your employment contract will be enforced unless deemed 'unfair' in a court of law.

[Zod]

kevinday said:

The Official Secrets Act applies to all UK citizens from the moment of birth until death, regardless of signing any piece of paper. Whatever is in your employment contract will be enforced unless deemed 'unfair' in a court of law.

Section 2 only applies if you sign.

[bryan35]

hmm.

Where I work it's an offence to talk about the internal workings/business to anyone outside. In fact, by that argument, it's probably an offence to tell you that even!! :-)

[julianhj]

streaky said:

julianhj said: You sign the Official Secrets Act on entry IIRC, so that has certain coverage, but wouldn't apply to stuff like money being wasted/poor planning and policy, I think. But you'd be wrong to think that. Also, any confidentiality clause in your contract of employment will survive termination (of the contract, and by whatever means) ... subject to the information not being at the time in the public domain - Streaky

Is public spending deemed confidential in the case of the police service, and policy also a taboo subject? How does the freedom of information act apply here? Could it be argued that such matters where in the public interest? I can understand certain specific operational details being classified (relating to anti-terrorism, for example), and of course individual cases being off-limits until solved/closed.

[streaky]

bryan35 said:

hmm. Where I work it's an offence to talk about the internal workings/business to anyone outside. In fact, by that argument, it's probably an offence to tell you that even!! :-)

It was an offence (under the 1911 Act) to inform anyone that you had signed the OSA - Streaky

[lunarscope]

bryan35 said:

hmm. Where I work it's an offence to talk about the internal workings/business to anyone outside. In fact, by that argument, it's probably an offence to tell you that even!! :-)

"Indicators and warnings".

Even something as simple as an increase in the number of paperclips delivered to a government office could be an indicator of something out of the ordinary happening.
Likewise, office lights on later than normal/late night pizza deliveries, etc...

Seemingly minor indicators like these in conjunction with other 'intelligence' are very useful to the security services.

I'd better not say any more.

[buckmac]

streaky said:

bryan35 said: hmm. Where I work it's an offence to talk about the internal workings/business to anyone outside. In fact, by that argument, it's probably an offence to tell you that even!! :-) It was an offence (under the 1911 Act) to inform anyone that you had signed the OSA - Streaky

OK, I'm up for it! As an ex-member of the armed services, I SIGNED THE OSA IN 1966

And what's more, I've still got the bit of paper as evidence!

Go on then - come and get me!!

>> Edited by buckmac on Friday 5th August 18:25