Main News Desk

Police and justice officials carpeted for breaking own rules on computer use

February 15, 2010

More than 70 staff at two of Britain’s leading law enforcement agencies have been disciplined for misusing the internet and social networking sites, according to official figures released today.
 
The Ministry of Justice has sacked four officials and issued final warnings to three for misbehaving on sites such as Facebook and Twitter and carpeted more than 40 staff for internet and email offences.
 
At the same time, Scotland Yard has launched disciplinary proceedings against 28 police officers for breaching rules on social networking sites.
 
Online experts warned more must be done to stamp out internet misuse in public bodies.
 
Keith Crosley, director at email security specialist Proofpoint, said: “It is worrying that so many personnel who work in two of the UK’s leading law enforcement agencies are bringing them into disrepute, if not risking operational security by the way they conduct themselves online.

“The public wants to be able to trust all employees in such sensitive jobs and doesn’t want them playing fast and loose when they log onto their computers. Police officers and Ministry of Justice officials are supposed to be upholding the rules and regulations – not breaking them.”

Eighteen Scotland Yard officers received written warnings for misusing social networking sites, five were given “words of advice” and four issued with a “formal misconduct” charge. The force decided to take no further action against one officer.
 
The Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) also disciplined five civilian staff for committing the same offence in the past 18 months – dismissing one of them.
 
Met and MoJ are banned from social networking sites for personal reasons during working hours. This includes blogging, video and photo sharing and posting comment.
 
However, a number of employees have access to social networking sites for professional reasons having obtained the necessary permission from senior management.
 
In addition to the staff sacked or disciplined over social networking breaches, the MoJ reported 41 staff were subject to disciplinary action for breaches of IT security policy. The types of incidents misuse of email, internet browsing, incorrect use of passwords and login detail.
 
The information came from a Freedom of Information request by technology consultations LEWIS Communications over misuse of social networking in the past 18 months following a spate of stories highlighting the misuse of the internet by police and civil servants.
 
Crosley said: “People post a wealth of information about themselves and their employers on Facebook. The Met and MoJ are not alone in dealing with these issues. Proofpoint’s own research has found that 17 per cent of organisations investigated a leak of confidential information via a social networking site, and 10 per cent have disciplined an employee for violating social networking policies in the past year.

“Although these departments have rules in place regulating the use of social networking sites by personnel, data breaches are still occurring and more needs to be done to prevent them.

“However, restricting access is clearly not the way forward as It’s impossible to stop people using social media tools at work.

“It makes more sense to educate employees about the risks, rather than implement an outright ban.

“The Met and MoJ need to be far more vocal about policies that are already in place and the punishments for not following the rules.”
 
Scotland Yard has issued a nine-point guide advising officers not to disclose they are police, compromise themselves or the force or bring the service into disrepute if using social networking sites in their own time.
 
If staff disclose that they work for the Met, then they are told it must be made absolutely clear that any views expressed do not represent the official position of the force but are the views of the individual.
  
They are also told not to use any MPS logo or other copyrighted material and must not post offensive images or comments, or in any way “harass, intimidate, bully, victimize or discriminate” against others.

The Met said training was given to staff which underlines the importance of using all MPS computer systems in line with existing law and regulations:
 
It added: “All MPS police officers and police staff are expected to adhere to the MPS Information Code of Conduct which sets out the policy on the use of MPS Information and information communication and technology systems. The MPS Directorate of Information issues regular reminders to staff on the importance of ensuring they comply with this policy.”
 
An MoJ spokesman said: “MoJ policy is that staff cannot access social networking sites for personal reasons. Staff can only access such sites for professional reasons if they are able to provide a strong business case that shows they need to use these media to perform their role.”

 

Contact details

For further information about this release contact David Brown or Jade Wilkinson of LEWIS PR on 0207 802 2626

Technorati tags: LEWIS PR | Proofpoint | social media | Met | MoJ |

Bookmarklets: