Police in Lancashire welcome new guidelines on second jobs (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Police in Lancashire welcome new guidelines on second jobs
9:15am Thursday 14th February 2013 in News
MOVES aimed at rooting out police corruption and misconduct announced by the Home Secretary have been given a cautious welcome in Lancashire.
Members of the county’s police force already have to declare any second jobs they have to their bosses.
Under a new code of conduct this will become the norm across the country, and officers will also have to say if they benefit from any profitable interests.
Chief constables in England and Wales will also have to declare all gifts and hospitality on a public online register under the anti-corruption measures.
Mick Gradwell, a retired senior detective with Lancashire Police, said officers always had to declare second jobs.
He said: “It is quite wrong to think a lot of these people are moonlighting.
“I can’t think of one officer who had a major job.”
Mr Gradwell said that under the code, having a wife or partner who rented out property, whilst not a second job, would need to be registered.
He also gave examples of part-time shop work, being a driving instructor or a bricklayer as types of second jobs.
Mr Gradwell said: “A lot of this was very casual. The vast majority were doing minor time and minor money.”
In Lancashire, officers are allowed to take on extra work at the discretion of their force’s chief constable, although the Association of Chief Police Officers issues guidelines that rule out any activities where there is financial gain or benefit.
A Lancashire Constabulary spokesperson said: “All police staff and officers are required to declare secondary employment to ensure it is compatible to the role they are performing within the organisation.
“There is a high level of scrutiny and rigorous risk tests that determine the suitability of secondary employment and, inevitably, some requests are declined.
“The scheme is in place to not only protect the constabulary and maintain public confidence, but also ensure that individual officers do not engage in any activity which may conflict with their job.”
A current breakdown of the type of second jobs officers have was not available.
But last year the force said 123 officers and staff had declared additional work.
