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2 responses to “New Met blogging rules spark anger”

1. 2006/03/13

   alecm

   rules in full

   via http coppersblog.blogspot.com/2006/03/that-mps-guidance-on-blogging-in-full.html ; to me it doesn’t look too bad, unless perhaps you have reason to fear zealous prosecution of the “force into disreupte bit”.

   Feeding your kids and paying your mortgage / getting a pension can be a powerful incentive to not lose your job at the whim of a pen-wielder.

   —-

   Recently the organisation has become aware of a series of web-logs or blogs where authors – claiming to be police officers – have offered their views on a number of issues in a highly personalised, often controversial manner.

   As a result Management Board has issued some general guidance on writing about experiences or giving personal opinions about the MPS via web-logs.

   Whilst there is nothing to stop any serving police officer of member of police staff from ‘blogging’, everyone should ensure they are familiar with the following guidance before taking part in such discussions.

   -MPS staff taking part in web-logs should consider the impact of expressing views and opinions that are damaging to the organisation or bring the organisation into disrepute.

   -Serving staff should not seek to profit from their experiences of working in the Met and therefore should not accept payment for anything they write or produce.

   -The web-log author should make clear that the views expressed are theirs alone and do not represent those of the MPS.

   -The contents of any web-log should not divulge information, which could compromise operations, investigations or which breaches the Official Secrets or Data Protection Acts.

   -The contents of any web-log should not contain material that is racist, homophobic, sexist defamatory, offensive, illegal or is otherwise inappropriate. If any member of staff is identified as contributing such material to a web-log they may be subject to disciplinary proceedings.

   -The author should ensure that any blogging activity does not interfere with work commitments.

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2. 2006/03/15

   M

   re: rules in full

   They really are that zealous about the whole “Disrepute” thing. Naysaying anything that “Our Glorious Leader” spews forth is enough. There is now a section of the DPS which has the sole task of identifying and tracking the online activities of officers, hence the paranoia.

   This is an organisation who won’t even allow people to access secure sites via a work computer, so doing a quick bit of online banking in your lunch break is impossible. Oh, and access to the internet from a computer at work has to be applied for and approved by a senior bod! Then again we’re not entitled to a food break anyway.

   The rules and restrictions on your private life are quite draconian, really.

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