Dorset Police Officers could face disciplinary action
Discussion
Article in tonights local paper
"POLICE officers could face disciplinary action after being caught using work computers to protest about the Government's road pricing plans.
Officers and civilian workers who added their names to a petition on the Downing Street website from their work terminals will be investigated after an internal email encouraged them to add their voices to the campaign.
Staff who answered the call contravened the force's internet policy which forbids usage of the system for political activity".
"POLICE officers could face disciplinary action after being caught using work computers to protest about the Government's road pricing plans.
Officers and civilian workers who added their names to a petition on the Downing Street website from their work terminals will be investigated after an internal email encouraged them to add their voices to the campaign.
Staff who answered the call contravened the force's internet policy which forbids usage of the system for political activity".
rewc said:
Article in tonights local paper
"POLICE officers could face disciplinary action after being caught using work computers to protest about the Government's road pricing plans.
Officers and civilian workers who added their names to a petition on the Downing Street website from their work terminals will be investigated after an internal email encouraged them to add their voices to the campaign.
Staff who answered the call contravened the force's internet policy which forbids usage of the system for political activity".
"POLICE officers could face disciplinary action after being caught using work computers to protest about the Government's road pricing plans.
Officers and civilian workers who added their names to a petition on the Downing Street website from their work terminals will be investigated after an internal email encouraged them to add their voices to the campaign.
Staff who answered the call contravened the force's internet policy which forbids usage of the system for political activity".
I suppose "political activity" would include thinking about how one would travel to work?
chrispy porker said:
Quite right too!
If you want to sign the petition do it in your own time on your own computer. Anyone who uses a job computer for any thing personal knows that it is fraught with problems,and can lead to disciplinary action. They must be muppets.
If you want to sign the petition do it in your own time on your own computer. Anyone who uses a job computer for any thing personal knows that it is fraught with problems,and can lead to disciplinary action. They must be muppets.
It's a pathetic attempt to scare people off - interestingly I don't hear them saying it for any other petition - just this one.
nobleguy said:
chrispy porker said:
Quite right too!
If you want to sign the petition do it in your own time on your own computer. Anyone who uses a job computer for any thing personal knows that it is fraught with problems,and can lead to disciplinary action. They must be muppets.
If you want to sign the petition do it in your own time on your own computer. Anyone who uses a job computer for any thing personal knows that it is fraught with problems,and can lead to disciplinary action. They must be muppets.
It's a pathetic attempt to scare people off - interestingly I don't hear them saying it for any other petition - just this one.
The rules for use of work computers were published & put into effect long before this petition.
You just personally haven't it reported before now, that's not the same as it not happening.
chrispy porker said:
Quite right too!
If you want to sign the petition do it in your own time on your own computer. Anyone who uses a job computer for any thing personal knows that it is fraught with problems,and can lead to disciplinary action. They must be muppets.
If you want to sign the petition do it in your own time on your own computer. Anyone who uses a job computer for any thing personal knows that it is fraught with problems,and can lead to disciplinary action. They must be muppets.
I'm not so sure about that.
First, it is obvious that most people who have internet access at work will at some time or another use it for something personal. Many if not all employers accept that, so long as that does not interfere with the individual's job performance.
In any normal job situation one is allowed to engage in occasional personal telephone calls of moderate length, have a tea break, and banter about non-work topics with one's colleagues. Why should the internet in principle be different?
Second, if we're to judge by the OP, the internet restriction appears to apply to "political activity". Why should that be singled out? Is that any worse than looking on the internet to check out the weekend's football fixtures or what's scheduled for tonight's telly?
If the Police rule were that, whilst on the clock, one may not do anything that is personal, ever, then of course that would include anything personal on the internet. If that all-encompassing anti-social restriction were in place, however, one expects that there would be many fewer police officers than there are.
If a police officer is allowed to do the occasional personal thing, however, why should signing a petition be different from having a bar of chocolate?
mr_annie_vxr said:
Most forces are very clear. No internet use for personal matters or internal / external emails. Personal calls are frowned upon as are nearly all personal errands unless authorised.
You're saying that the original post was not accurate:
rewc said:
Staff who answered the call contravened the force's internet policy which forbids usage of the system for political activity".
? flemke said:
mr_annie_vxr said:
Most forces are very clear. No internet use for personal matters or internal / external emails. Personal calls are frowned upon as are nearly all personal errands unless authorised.
You're saying that the original post was not accurate:
rewc said:
Staff who answered the call contravened the force's internet policy which forbids usage of the system for political activity".
? No. I imagine that's in their as well. Police are not allowed to be involved in politics. To be honest though what it is they looked at is nothing to do with the action. There was an email saying to go to a website. I imagine professional standards then dealt with all those who accessed it. The site could have been anything from gardening to a site on camels.
CP is right the people who did it are silly. We all know the rules about internet use.
mr_annie_vxr said:
No. I imagine that's in their as well. Police are not allowed to be involved in politics. To be honest though what it is they looked at is nothing to do with the action. There was an email saying to go to a website. I imagine professional standards then dealt with all those who accessed it. The site could have been anything from gardening to a site on camels.
CP is right the people who did it are silly. We all know the rules about internet use.
Right, so the issue is internet use, not signing a petition.
Why do they have computers in Police stations which allow access to the internet if it is a disciplinary offence to log on to it.
I would hardly describe this as political activity, it's simply expressing an opinion on what has become quite an emotive subject, and will affect Police officers just as much as it will affect anyone else.
I would hardly describe this as political activity, it's simply expressing an opinion on what has become quite an emotive subject, and will affect Police officers just as much as it will affect anyone else.
I use the internet for work purposes. In our force you are not allowed to circulate an email to all employees without permission from a senior officer,which is a rule that everyone understands.
I repeat. Anyone who gets involved in this kind of thing on the forces computers is daft. They must know that everything they do is monitored. I have no sympathy at all I am afraid.
I repeat. Anyone who gets involved in this kind of thing on the forces computers is daft. They must know that everything they do is monitored. I have no sympathy at all I am afraid.
chrispy porker said:
I use the internet for work purposes. In our force you are not allowed to circulate an email to all employees without permission from a senior officer,which is a rule that everyone understands.
I repeat. Anyone who gets involved in this kind of thing on the forces computers is daft. They must know that everything they do is monitored. I have no sympathy at all I am afraid.
I repeat. Anyone who gets involved in this kind of thing on the forces computers is daft. They must know that everything they do is monitored. I have no sympathy at all I am afraid.
Let's leave aside the "To all" e-mail bit, which may or may not have happened (not mentioned in OP).
Suppose you heard on the radio that there was a petition on the Government's own "Downing Street" website, and all you did was to look at it via a Police computer and add your name.
Would that still be a hanging offence?
My original post was a direct quote from the opening of the article in tonights paper. It went on to say
Quote: A Dorset Police spokesman said: "It came to notice that an email had been circulated around the force which encouraged officers and staff to become involved in voting on political proposals through a government website.
"Police officers and staff were reminded of the force's internet access and email policy. It advises staff that internet and email services are primarily provided for official purposes only - occasional and reasonable personal use of these services is permitted, provided that such use does not interfere with official business or the performance of official duties and responsibilities.
"Officers from the Professional Standards Department are currently looking into whether any disciplinary action is necessary." end of quote:
I guess the Police hierarchy do not see it as " reasonable". Obviously a Policeman's lot is not always a happy one!
Quote: A Dorset Police spokesman said: "It came to notice that an email had been circulated around the force which encouraged officers and staff to become involved in voting on political proposals through a government website.
"Police officers and staff were reminded of the force's internet access and email policy. It advises staff that internet and email services are primarily provided for official purposes only - occasional and reasonable personal use of these services is permitted, provided that such use does not interfere with official business or the performance of official duties and responsibilities.
"Officers from the Professional Standards Department are currently looking into whether any disciplinary action is necessary." end of quote:
I guess the Police hierarchy do not see it as " reasonable". Obviously a Policeman's lot is not always a happy one!
flemke said:
chrispy porker said:
I use the internet for work purposes. In our force you are not allowed to circulate an email to all employees without permission from a senior officer,which is a rule that everyone understands.
I repeat. Anyone who gets involved in this kind of thing on the forces computers is daft. They must know that everything they do is monitored. I have no sympathy at all I am afraid.
I repeat. Anyone who gets involved in this kind of thing on the forces computers is daft. They must know that everything they do is monitored. I have no sympathy at all I am afraid.
Let's leave aside the "To all" e-mail bit, which may or may not have happened (not mentioned in OP).
Suppose you heard on the radio that there was a petition on the Government's own "Downing Street" website, and all you did was to look at it via a Police computer and add your name.
Would that still be a hanging offence?
No, but I would expect to be disciplined.So I wouldn't do it. Is that so hard to understand?
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