A good use of police resources?
Discussion
46 detectives (later cut to 32) plus 'dozens' of specialist search officers were deployed to search for the two CDs 'lost' between HMRC and the NAO (via TNT).
A Scotland Yard source said: "There was a lot of pressure to find the discs and vast resources thrown at it - more than you would see used in a major murder investigation."
Teams searched NAO offices, two HMRC premises and other government buildings. The Royal Mail depot in Belfast and a rubbish tip in Kent have also been scoured, as well as four depots belonging to the courier firm TNT.
Detectives think the discs were inadvertently destroyed, but cannot guarantee they have not fallen into "the wrong hands".
The investigation was launched amid fears that the loss of the data exposed every family in Britain to identity fraud ... which - at a direct cost of tens of thousands of pounds and uncalculated lost-opportunity cost - it has failed to do!
And we're picking up the tab!
Streaky
PS - of course, in the (in) famous words of Tony B'Liar, Brown and Darling have "moved on" from that episode now - S
PPS - I have a mental picture of 'specialist search officers' on their hands and knees combing the floor of the 'Dead-letter Office' in Belfast, exclaiming "I've found something!" every time they come across a parcel
- S
PPPS - I don't blame the BiB in any way, they were forced into the investigation - S
A Scotland Yard source said: "There was a lot of pressure to find the discs and vast resources thrown at it - more than you would see used in a major murder investigation."
Teams searched NAO offices, two HMRC premises and other government buildings. The Royal Mail depot in Belfast and a rubbish tip in Kent have also been scoured, as well as four depots belonging to the courier firm TNT.
Detectives think the discs were inadvertently destroyed, but cannot guarantee they have not fallen into "the wrong hands".
The investigation was launched amid fears that the loss of the data exposed every family in Britain to identity fraud ... which - at a direct cost of tens of thousands of pounds and uncalculated lost-opportunity cost - it has failed to do!
And we're picking up the tab!
Streaky
PS - of course, in the (in) famous words of Tony B'Liar, Brown and Darling have "moved on" from that episode now - S
PPS - I have a mental picture of 'specialist search officers' on their hands and knees combing the floor of the 'Dead-letter Office' in Belfast, exclaiming "I've found something!" every time they come across a parcel
- SPPPS - I don't blame the BiB in any way, they were forced into the investigation - S
Is it a good use of police? Not really, but they don't have a choice. Anything to protect the "reputation" of Nu Laba scum.
Much the same as those officers protecting Blunkett when he wanted a bit of rumpy pumpy like... I'm sure they didn't want to work protection on a Mistress, but they don't get a choice..
Much the same as those officers protecting Blunkett when he wanted a bit of rumpy pumpy like... I'm sure they didn't want to work protection on a Mistress, but they don't get a choice..
flemke said:
I think that most of us would agree that the police are amongst the most valuable public employees.
Interesting, therefore, that this job of a simple Easter egg hunt-type had to be done by them, rather than by forty of the hundreds of thousands of less valuable public employees.
good point, its hardly beyond the wit of the average civil servant to move a chair/filing cabinet & look behind them is it?Interesting, therefore, that this job of a simple Easter egg hunt-type had to be done by them, rather than by forty of the hundreds of thousands of less valuable public employees.
Hooli said:
flemke said:
I think that most of us would agree that the police are amongst the most valuable public employees.
Interesting, therefore, that this job of a simple Easter egg hunt-type had to be done by them, rather than by forty of the hundreds of thousands of less valuable public employees.
good point, its hardly beyond the wit of the average civil servant to move a chair/filing cabinet & look behind them is it?Interesting, therefore, that this job of a simple Easter egg hunt-type had to be done by them, rather than by forty of the hundreds of thousands of less valuable public employees.
It's another case of the police cleaning up a mess for someone else.
The only justification I can see for this is the protection of the data that is on the discs.
The big question is who will pay for the cost of the operation, HMCR should fit the bill allowing the police to pay for additional officers so it doesn't impact on normal manning levels but I bet it doesn't happen that way.
The only justification I can see for this is the protection of the data that is on the discs.
The big question is who will pay for the cost of the operation, HMCR should fit the bill allowing the police to pay for additional officers so it doesn't impact on normal manning levels but I bet it doesn't happen that way.
G51CAV said:
It's another case of the police cleaning up a mess for someone else.
The only justification I can see for this is the protection of the data that is on the discs.
The big question is who will pay for the cost of the operation, HMCR should fit the bill allowing the police to pay for additional officers so it doesn't impact on normal manning levels but I bet it doesn't happen that way.
As I said, we will. HMRC has agreed to pick up the police bill, but who funds HMRC? Why, the tax-payer ... that's who! - StreakyThe only justification I can see for this is the protection of the data that is on the discs.
The big question is who will pay for the cost of the operation, HMCR should fit the bill allowing the police to pay for additional officers so it doesn't impact on normal manning levels but I bet it doesn't happen that way.
streaky said:
G51CAV said:
It's another case of the police cleaning up a mess for someone else.
The only justification I can see for this is the protection of the data that is on the discs.
The big question is who will pay for the cost of the operation, HMCR should fit the bill allowing the police to pay for additional officers so it doesn't impact on normal manning levels but I bet it doesn't happen that way.
As I said, we will. HMRC has agreed to pick up the police bill, but who funds HMRC? Why, the tax-payer ... that's who! - StreakyThe only justification I can see for this is the protection of the data that is on the discs.
The big question is who will pay for the cost of the operation, HMCR should fit the bill allowing the police to pay for additional officers so it doesn't impact on normal manning levels but I bet it doesn't happen that way.
i want an aero said:
cpso could have been a good job for them, let proper coppers doing real jobs not trying to save face for this bunch of idiots in charge
Was it beyond the imagination of those running the show that, rather then sending out scarce police officers, a hundred clerks from HMRC itself might have been sent out to poke through piles of undelivered mail?Gassing Station | Speed, Plod & the Law | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff