PH (semi) Banned at Work...

[Dibble]

The force I work for has recently introduced filtered web access to all staff; previously, if you wanted access, you had to justify exatly what you wanted, and specify each site, and were restricted in that way.

Now everyone has access, although there a number of restrictions (everything is logged, only "reasonable" personal use, no buying/selling online, no online banking, no streaming sites (YouTube etc), no pornography etc etc).

The upside is if I am having a meal break, I can look at PH... The downside is that the forums are blocked!

And even more bizarrely, as I found out yesterday while trying to find the details of a Royal Navy base down south, "military" websites are all also blocked... even the MOD one.

I can understand chat rooms and forums being blocked, but I don't really understand why the Royal Navy, Army, Air Force and MOD ones are blocked.

[jasandjules]

How very strange, and to my mind rather worrying.....

[Alex]

Have you tried using one of the other PH urls? Maybe they haven't blocked them all?

www.pistonheads.co.uk/gassing/
www.petrolheads.co.uk/gassing/
www.petrolheads.com/gassing/

[insanojackson]

This is outrageous. No one in my force is given internet access. There is only one computer in the nick where you can get on internet and its for job purposes only. I see no need why cops should be allowed on net at work? just encourages skiving!

[eltax91]

*Cough* http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html *Cough*

Might work, might get blocked!

[Dibble]

insanojackson said:

This is outrageous. No one in my force is given internet access.

Not a single person in your force has internet access? How on earth do they reply to people who contact them through your force website then?

insanojackson said:

There is only one computer in the nick where you can get on internet and its for job purposes only. I see no need why cops should be allowed on net at work? just encourages skiving!

Haven't you just rather contradicted yourself? If noone has access, why is there a computer where you can access the internet for work purposes?


All our use is logged/monitored, both by IT and Professional Standards. I use the internet for about 95% work related stuff - it's very handy to get "foreign force" addresses and driving directions/routemaps.

And as I'm sure you're aware, the "Police Gazette" is no longer sent out, it's only accessible via their website.

And how am I suppose to look at eBay frauds and the like, if I don't have internet access. I can hardly say to the complainant "Can I come round to your house and borrow your computer to investigate your complaint?"

"Reasonable personal use" is permitted, but it is restricted as I've already outlined. I only use it when I'm on a meal break, or before/after working hours. I certainly don't sit there all day surfing aimlessly, I don't have the time.

I take it you never use the firm's phone to make personal calls either?

[Scoop940]

eltax91 said:

*Cough* http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html *Cough*

Might work, might get blocked!

Might get you sacked, deliberatly circumventing the thought police - doesn't go down well where I work..

[Dibble]

Scoop940 said:

eltax91 said:

*Cough* http://anonymouse.org/anonwww.html *Cough*

Might work, might get blocked!

Might get you sacked, deliberatly circumventing the thought police - doesn't go down well where I work..

I'll happily wait until I'm at home to post on PH, wouldn't want to try and get on the forums if they're obviously blocked and cause myself unnecessary trouble (well, any more than I get in with PSD anyway about some of my postings!).

[julianc]

Dibble said:

I'll happily wait until I'm at home to post on PH, wouldn't want to try and get on the forums if they're obviously blocked and cause myself unnecessary trouble (well, any more than I get in with PSD anyway about some of my postings!).

Just keep on posting, Dibble! Always excellent posts to read.

Julian

[Dibble]

julianc said:

Dibble said:

I'll happily wait until I'm at home to post on PH, wouldn't want to try and get on the forums if they're obviously blocked and cause myself unnecessary trouble (well, any more than I get in with PSD anyway about some of my postings!).

Just keep on posting, Dibble! Always excellent posts to read.

Julian

From your profile, you seem to be not too far away from me. Perhaps you can buy me a beer sometime!

[insanojackson]

Dibble said:

insanojackson said:

This is outrageous. No one in my force is given internet access.

Not a single person in your force has internet access? How on earth do they reply to people who contact them through your force website then?

insanojackson said:

There is only one computer in the nick where you can get on internet and its for job purposes only. I see no need why cops should be allowed on net at work? just encourages skiving!

Haven't you just rather contradicted yourself? If noone has access, why is there a computer where you can access the internet for work purposes?


All our use is logged/monitored, both by IT and Professional Standards. I use the internet for about 95% work related stuff - it's very handy to get "foreign force" addresses and driving directions/routemaps.

And as I'm sure you're aware, the "Police Gazette" is no longer sent out, it's only accessible via their website.

And how am I suppose to look at eBay frauds and the like, if I don't have internet access. I can hardly say to the complainant "Can I come round to your house and borrow your computer to investigate your complaint?"

"Reasonable personal use" is permitted, but it is restricted as I've already outlined. I only use it when I'm on a meal break, or before/after working hours. I certainly don't sit there all day surfing aimlessly, I don't have the time.

I take it you never use the firm's phone to make personal calls either?

Er actually i dont use the phone at work to make personal calls, I use my mobile for 3 reasons

1) I then dont have to keep a log of useage to pay my bill to work every month,
2) My mobile is free for 600 mins and im generally busy so dont have a lot of time to make personal calls at work
3)Dont really want professional standards having the change to record/monitor my personal calls if they see reason to(or monitor anyone elses from the same phone (collateral intrusion))

And yes there is only one computer in the nick with internet access. Knowing cops as i do if everyone had their own use of tinter net it would be a recipe for disaster. Too much of a temptation for some.

I predict it would only be a matter of time before some idiots were sacked for looking at porn whilst on duty with all the media attention that would attract.

[Dibble]

insanojackson said:

Er actually i dont use the phone at work to make personal calls, I use my mobile...

We're permitted "reasonable" personal use of the work phone, which is what I was referring to - if I'm being kept on duty and need to let Mes Dibble know, I'll use the work phone, and the call probably lasts thirty seconds, tops. I don't spend an hour ringing friends in Australia (in fact I couldn't anyway, as international calls are barred).

And there's no chance of looking at porn on the internet, becsuae unsurprisingly, pornographic websites are blocked. If I am conducting an investigation that requires me to look at such a site, it has to be authorised.

We're in the 21st century now. The types of crime we deal with are changing, internet fraud/crime being one area. It therefore logically follows that we need to be able to use the internet, and the information on it, to fight crime.

[mr_annie_vxr]

Dibble said:

insanojackson said:

Er actually i dont use the phone at work to make personal calls, I use my mobile...

We're permitted "reasonable" personal use of the work phone, which is what I was referring to - if I'm being kept on duty and need to let Mes Dibble know, I'll use the work phone, and the call probably lasts thirty seconds, tops. I don't spend an hour ringing friends in Australia (in fact I couldn't anyway, as international calls are barred).

And there's no chance of looking at porn on the internet, becsuae unsurprisingly, pornographic websites are blocked. If I am conducting an investigation that requires me to look at such a site, it has to be authorised.

We're in the 21st century now. The types of crime we deal with are changing, internet fraud/crime being one area. It therefore logically follows that we need to be able to use the internet, and the information on it, to fight crime.

All have access in my force and it is logged. We use it to look at ebay for stolen items, certain local criminals have active websites etc we use and also to look at other forces intiatives we can 'borrow'. I also have used google maps for planning warrants and to improve presentations etc. Again its all logged and I would only look at something I can justify.

[insanojackson]

Dibble said:

insanojackson said:

Er actually i dont use the phone at work to make personal calls, I use my mobile...

We're permitted "reasonable" personal use of the work phone, which is what I was referring to - if I'm being kept on duty and need to let Mes Dibble know, I'll use the work phone, and the call probably lasts thirty seconds, tops. I don't spend an hour ringing friends in Australia (in fact I couldn't anyway, as international calls are barred).

And there's no chance of looking at porn on the internet, becsuae unsurprisingly, pornographic websites are blocked. If I am conducting an investigation that requires me to look at such a site, it has to be authorised.

We're in the 21st century now. The types of crime we deal with are changing, internet fraud/crime being one area. It therefore logically follows that we need to be able to use the internet, and the information on it, to fight crime.

Oh we are in the 21st century? I never knew that. I had better stop arresting people for larcency then.

Also using on your dinner break must be nice, I dont usually get a dinner break due to it being so busy. Oh the luck majority who work 9 til 5 warming an office chair doing not very much. How i aspired to that when i joined the police.

[Rob_the_Sparky]

insanojackson said:

Dibble said:

insanojackson said:

This is outrageous. No one in my force is given internet access.

Not a single person in your force has internet access? How on earth do they reply to people who contact them through your force website then?

insanojackson said:

There is only one computer in the nick where you can get on internet and its for job purposes only. I see no need why cops should be allowed on net at work? just encourages skiving!

Haven't you just rather contradicted yourself? If noone has access, why is there a computer where you can access the internet for work purposes?


All our use is logged/monitored, both by IT and Professional Standards. I use the internet for about 95% work related stuff - it's very handy to get "foreign force" addresses and driving directions/routemaps.

And as I'm sure you're aware, the "Police Gazette" is no longer sent out, it's only accessible via their website.

And how am I suppose to look at eBay frauds and the like, if I don't have internet access. I can hardly say to the complainant "Can I come round to your house and borrow your computer to investigate your complaint?"

"Reasonable personal use" is permitted, but it is restricted as I've already outlined. I only use it when I'm on a meal break, or before/after working hours. I certainly don't sit there all day surfing aimlessly, I don't have the time.

I take it you never use the firm's phone to make personal calls either?

Er actually i dont use the phone at work to make personal calls, I use my mobile for 3 reasons

1) I then dont have to keep a log of useage to pay my bill to work every month,
2) My mobile is free for 600 mins and im generally busy so dont have a lot of time to make personal calls at work
3)Dont really want professional standards having the change to record/monitor my personal calls if they see reason to(or monitor anyone elses from the same phone (collateral intrusion))

And yes there is only one computer in the nick with internet access. Knowing cops as i do if everyone had their own use of tinter net it would be a recipe for disaster. Too much of a temptation for some.

I predict it would only be a matter of time before some idiots were sacked for looking at porn whilst on duty with all the media attention that would attract.

As a member of public I would find it very worrying that a policeman couldn't be trusted with the internet/phone. They are trusted in court to give unbiased evidance yet you can't trust them with a computer or phone???? I think it would p*** me off if I thought my employer had such a small amout of trust in me and if an employee couldn't be trusted then should they be there?

Rob

[Dibble]

insanojackson said:

Also using on your dinner break must be nice, I dont usually get a dinner break due to it being so busy. Oh the luck majority who work 9 til 5 warming an office chair doing not very much. How i aspired to that when i joined the police.

isj

I don't think I'm going to bother entering into any furthr discourse with you after this post. The way I read your postings is that you believe only your opinion is right - such as your comments on GBs timings.

GB has made clear from the outset that he works in Scotland, where the Police, indeed the whole Criminal Justice System, is different to that in England and Wlaes, yet becuase you have not heard of making a report to the PF, it must be rubbish.

Mr_annie_vxr gave some very good reasons why internet access (albeit controlled) should be allowed. Just becuase this does not seem to tally with your personal view does not make it invaild.

I do not always get a meal break either. Sometimes, when I do, I spend a few minutes browsing the internet, purely for my own pleasure. I do not look at anything that is offensive; in fact, the last couple of times, I spent about ten minutes looking at houses for sale, and the rough prices for some camera bodies on eBay. I often find that being able to take a short break reinvigorates me, and makes me more efficient when I get back to work.

When I do take a meal break, it is usually eating my sandwiches at my desk if I am in the office, and if the phone wrings or someone comes in for advice, I do not ignore them becuase I am on a meal break.

I don't work 9-5 either. I am usually in the office, self briefing, and preparing that morning's team briefing, about 20-30 minutes before the start of my tour of duty. I usually leave for home about 15-20 minutes after my rostered hours.

I also worked on a major enquiry a couple of weeks ago, where I worked for eight days straight. My hours were Mon 0800-2200, Tue 0800-2100, Wed 0800-0100, Thu 0800-2230, Fri, Sat, Sun and Mon 0800-1700. I was out of the building, in the weather, doing Police work. It didn't make me any better than any of my colleagues, I just got on with the tasks I had been allocated.

I also work nights cover as divisional duty DC on a regular basis. I realise that this is nowhere near as tiring as working full shifts, but conversely, I do not receive the SPP that some officers do.

It is not infrequent that I have to cancel social arrangements and work late in my usual role. I would rather just do eight hours, and spend some time with Mrs Dibble and our dogs, but sometimes, you have to work on. I do so without complaint (the majority of the time).

I do not spend eight or ten hours a day at a desk, and resent your implication that I do.

Thanks for your time. Goodbye.

[mr_annie_vxr]

Dibbs... I still love you

[busa_rush]

Every company will eventually provide free access to the web, in time, it's only a matter of time. I guess the HR people in public bodies are just a few years behind the rest of us and still try to generate activities for themselves, like choosing which sites to block.

When the police service is part-privatised and recruitment/HR is run by a PLC and IT by another PLC then you'll probably be able to access pretty much whatever you like, and the force will be better for it.

[MilnerR]

Where I work (University but attach to a hospital and run by an NHS trust) we're allowed free access within the terms and conditions laid down in our contract. No looking at dodgy stuff, no downloading of copyrighted material, no p2p things like that. The IT department probably do log some activities (Bittorent that sort of thing), other than that we're treated like grown-ups. Speaking of grown-ups, what's insanojackson on? He comes across as a bit of a self-righteous arse, in fact he sounds nothing like the rest of the BiB that post on here. Even those BiB whose opinions go against the tide come across as articulate reasonble people. isanojackon comes across as the stereotypical "jumped-up" copper.

Maybe I'm just reading too much into his contributions.

[Prof Beard]

Back in the days when I was involved in University IT management, I was asked by as manager in an admin dept if we would monitor what one of his staff was doing on their computer as he thought "they are spending all their time surfing". I refused on the grounds that he was paid to be a manager and should be able to tell if his staff weren't doing any work!