Sacking of council staff in ‘sick e-mails’ probe sparks mixed reaction

Nov 27 2008 by John Rowbotham, Hamilton Advertiser

COUNCIL chiefs who sacked staff after an e-mail porn probe were this week accused of being heavy-handed.

Fifteen South Lanarkshire Council workers have so far been shown the door for sending sleazy or sick images using the authority’s computer system.

Others have been handed a final written warning .

A number of disciplinary hearings have still to be held and there could be more sackings.

Some of those sacked are considering whether to appeal.

Among those to lose their job are staff from the council’s child protection unit in Rutherglen.

Others to be carpeted are from enterprise resources and roads departments.

They were snared after messages sent between staff were highlighted by software designed to filter out offensive material.

Internal investigators followed the trail of messages and images and in October, 24 staff were suspended.

Some of the pictures were of naked women.

Another involved a sick image of Gary Glitter, the disgraced former glam rock star who in August was released from prison in Vietnam after serving a three-year jail term for sexually abusing girls aged 11 and 12.

The image showed Glitter at an airport carrying a bag to which the head of a child had been superimposed.

Yesterday (Wednesday), a council spokesman denied a Sunday newspaper report that the photograph was that of a child on their ‘at risk’ register.

“We do not hold photographs of children on our at risk register,” she added.

“As of today, a number of employees across the council have been dismissed and others have received final written warnings over the circulation of an e-mail featuring the image of a child's face superimposed on a shopping bag carried by Gary Glitter.

“The image is one currently circulating throughout the United Kingdom.

“It is totally inappropriate and represents a gross misuse of council e-mail.”

However, a council insider said the view among some staff was that the sackings represented an “over-reaction” by managers.

The source, who asked not to be named, added: “These kind of images are inappropriate in a work setting but nothing you cannot buy in a corner shop or see in a lads’ mag.

“It’s not hard-core pornography we are talking about here.

“The Gary Glitter image was more a comment about him and what he has done than anything else.”

The insider claimed: “Some of those to lose their jobs are very experienced and very valued workers who made a stupid mistake that they now regret.

“Lots of people send dubious, silly stuff to one another. Much of it is inoffensive and it is part of what goes on in the workplace.

“However, at the moment managers are not in a very forgiving mood.”

Other council staff felt the authority’s action was fully justified. Indeed, it was a said to be a colleague, sickened by the images, who had initially reported the matter to bosses.

Stephen Smellie, secretary of South Lanarkshire’s UNISON branch, said this week: “We have represented some of the staff in the disciplinary proceedings and will continue to represent people through the appeal process.”