Police face inquiry over signing protest petition

The Telegraph
Feb. 16, 2007

Police officers and staff who used work computers to protest against the Government's road charging plans could face disciplinary action.

Police officers and civilian staff at Dorset Police were amongst more than 1.2 million people who signed an online petition against the Department of Transport's proposals to introduce a national road pricing scheme.

Opposition has been so great that Downing Street's website crashed under the weight of people wanting to sign the online petition.

An internal email encouraged Dorset Police officers and staff to add their name to the petition.

But using work computers and internet for political activity is against the force's policy.

Officers from the Professional Standards Department were investigating whether to take any disciplinary action against staff who answered the call.

A Dorset Police spokesman said: "It came to notice that an email had been circulated around the force which encouraged officers and staff to become involved in voting on political proposals through a government website.

"Police officers and staff were reminded of the force's internet access and email policy. The policy advises staff that internet and email services are primarily provided for official purposes only - occasional and reasonable personal use of these services is permitted, provided that such use does not interfere with official business or the performance of official duties and responsibilities.

"The document also lists unacceptable use and this includes engaging in political activity.

"Officers from the Professional Standards Department are currently looking into whether any disciplinary action is necessary."

The petition states: "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to scrap the planned vehicle tracking and road pricing policy."

It calls the policy "sinister and wrong" and warns the charge would be unfair to those who live away from their families, and poorer people.

The petition's author is Peter Roberts, 46, an account manager from Telford, Shropshire.

It appears on a new section of Downing Street's website which was set up in November last year to allow anyone to address and deliver a petition directly to the Prime Minister.

The Department for Transport's website says that while a national road charging scheme is unlikely to get under way until around 2015, it is keen to pilot local schemes before then.

The DfT says a study has shown a national scheme could cut congestion by half, generating billions of pounds for the economy.

Manchester and Birmingham are thought to be front-runners to host the regional trials, starting in four to five years.

Sir Rod Eddington's recent report on the future of transport gave strong support to nationwide congestion charging, which the DfT calculates could result in tolls of up to Ł1.28 a mile on the busiest roads in peak periods.