Jew World Order

• Two officers sacked, seven quit, 150 disciplined over inappropriate photos or comments in four years
• Dozens of government officials also taken to task for using Facebook and making defamatory remarks

By
Simon Tomlinson

Last updated at 3:48 PM on 30th December 2011

Dozens of government officials and police officers have been disciplined for accessing pornography, online gambling, Facebook and shopping websites at work.

More than 200 complaints have been made against the police for comments or photos posted on Facebook alone in the last four years.

Meanwhile, more than 70 civil servants at the Department for Work and Pensions have been caught accessing banned material, posting defamatory statements online and using eBay in the last three years, new figures show.

Caught out: Dozens of police officers have been disciplined for posting inappropriate messages and pictures on Facebook and accessing pornography and gambling websites (picture posed by model)

Staff at the Department of Transport have notched up 1,341 days browsing Facebook over the last 12 months, while Department of Health employees spent more than 83 days on the site in just a two-month period.

Investigations have been carried out into two police officers – one in Nottingham, the other in Strathclyde – for viewing pornography, according to figures released under freedom of information laws. One has resigned and the other case is ongoing, according to The Times.

An officer with Essex Police quit last year after accessing Facebook and gambling websites.

The data also revealed how 2,300 employees from Cumbria Constabulary had accessed shopping, property and internet auction sites.

Inappropriate: More than 70 employees at the Department for Work and Pensions, based at Richmond House in London (above), were caught looking at banned material and even posting defamatory comments online

A separate request under the Freedom of Information Act revealed at least two officers were sacked, seven quit and 150 faced disciplinary action after posting inappropriate photos or comments on Facebook in the last four years.

They used the social networking site to harass former partners and ex-colleagues, to comment on the wives of other officers, incite violence against suspects in custody and to suggest they had beaten up members of the public during protests.

Some even revealed details of police operations, tried to befriend victims of crime, or were caught in inappropriate photographs, forces said.

The details come as a review into police corruption found there was a ‘significant blurring’ between the personal and professional lives of officers online which risked damaging the service’s reputation.

A total of 187 complaints were made against officers over their use of Facebook, with nine officers being given final written warnings, 47 given written warnings and one given a formal warning.

Time on their hands: Staff at the Department of Transport have notched up 1,341 days browsing Facebook over the last 12 months

The figures, from 41 of the 43 forces in England and Wales, cover the period between 2008 and 2010.

Seven other officers – two special constables from the Dorset force and one officer from each of Bedfordshire, Cheshire, Essex, North Wales, and South Yorkshire – resigned following complaints, the figures showed.

Pc Nestor Costa, of Devon and Cornwall Police, was fined three days’ pay in 2008 after he called for violence against suspects in custody on his Facebook page.

Under a video of a youth with a knife being tackled by officers in a police station, he wrote: ‘Look at this stupid c**t, hope he gets a good f***ing shoeing in the cells.’

In all, a total of 187 complaints were made against officers over their use of Facebook, with nine officers being given final written warnings, 47 given written warnings and one given a formal warning.

A further 88 were subject to management action, received guidance or words of advice, while 32 complaints were either withdrawn, found to be unsubstantiated or led to no further action.

Taking action: Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, Acpo¿s lead for professional standards, says new guidance is being issued on information security

Roger Baker, who led the review into police corruption for Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC), said: ‘Social networking is seen as a risk by all forces and authorities, but there are limited or inconsistent policies around what is acceptable, what you should do, what you shouldn’t do.

‘We found a significant blurring between people’s professional lives on social networking sites and their private lives which may be in the public domain and private lives which probably should remain extremely private.’

The Association of Chief Police Officers (Acpo) said that while the service recognised the widespread benefits of social networking sites, it ‘also understands the risks relating to compromise, operational effectiveness and reputational damage’.

Chief Constable Mike Cunningham, Acpo’s lead for professional standards, said: Whilst officers and staff have a right to privacy and to share opinions and experiences with friends and associates, they should also be aware of the risk they are subject to when they identify themselves as being a member of the service.

‘For this reason, forces are revising their existing procedures on information security to include specific reference to the responsible use of social networking sites and are providing clear guidance on acceptable content.

‘They are also taking active steps to highlight risks and include awareness training in induction programmes and in wider police officer training.’

The Department for Transport said Facebook was used for ‘business-related purposes such as increasing public engagement, understanding of the department’s policies and help gauge public opinion on transport-related issues.’

The Department for Work and Pensions did not respond to requests for comment.

COMING A COPPER ON FACEBOOK: THE COMMENTS LANDING OFFICERS IN HOT WATER

• In 2011, a 35-year-old Metropolitan Police constable was sacked after referring to another officer as a ‘grass’ and a ‘liar’. The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said in June that the officer, who was based in Islington, north London, used deeply offensive language after being involved in a brief, casual relationship with a colleague which ended acrimoniously in April last year.

• Pc Nestor Costa, of Devon and Cornwall Police, was fined three days pay in 2008 after he called for violence against suspects in custody on his Facebook page. Under a video of a youth with a knife being tackled by officers in a police station, he wrote: ‘Look at this stupid c**t, hope he gets a good f***ing shoeing in the cells.’ He also posted photographs, videos and comments on his Facebook page, writing: ‘Let’s not be so soft on these c**ts out there.’

• An officer from the Hampshire force was sacked in 2009 after posting a racist comment.

• One officer in Cumbria who, during September and October 2010, ‘pursued a course of conduct which amounted to harassment of a colleague and which was conducted via text, email and Facebook entries’ was given a final written warning.

• A Lancashire Police officer received a written warning in 2008 after posting comments on Facebook which implied he had abused his authority by assaulting members of the public during public order incidents.

• A second officer from the same force was hauled before bosses in December 2009 for making inappropriate remarks on Facebook about the complainant’s wife. He was subject to ‘management action’.

• Two Nottinghamshire Police officers received the same punishment in 2009, one for engaging in a conversation on Facebook about a forthcoming police operation and another for publishing ‘discontent about having to work over the Easter bank holiday’.

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