Page 19 - Manchat Winter 2016

vIEWpoINT

Finding The Right Balance

CONDUCT when off duty. For example: “Will I have to haviour and gives advice on how to avoid this. The
Mike Peake and respond to an email marked urgent when I am not presentation is quite impactive and is designed to
in work, and if I don’t will I get criticised or even in focus officers’ minds. The Federation nationally
Lance Thomas
trouble?”. The short answer is: “No”. spends around £4m a year representing po-
The smart mobile phones have been issued by lice officers (subscribing members) during
GMP for work purposes, but GMP are happy for criminal investigations and gross miscon-
officers to use them for appropriate personal use. duct proceedings.
This does not mean that there is an expectation We would like to welcome all the new recruits
by GMP for officers to carry out any work via their and hope that they have a long and happy career
any police officers in mobile devices while they are not in work. GMP serving as police officers in GMP.
GMP will have now Federation believes that it is important for
M received their personal officers to have a work/life balance and Advice On Declaring A Secondary Income
issue work smart mobile phones, use their days off as a break in between GMP has in place a Business Interest for Police
which will improve their capabili- working. No officer should or could be criticised Officers policy, so that consideration on application
ties to carry out their day-to-day for not responding to a work communication via can be given to allow (or not) an officer to have a
policing functions. In the previous their GMP issue device when not in work. There secondary income that does not conflict with the
edition of Manchat we warned are already existing processes in place for DRMUs work of the police or adversely affect the reputation
officers about adhering to appropriate and supervision when urgent contact for officers is of the individual, GMP or the wider service.
usage of those devices and that advice will necessary. It is a gross misconduct breach to fail to declare

“Do I have to respond to an email marked urgent when I am not in
work, and if I don’t will I get in trouble? The short answer is No.”

always remain vital in order to reduce the risk of Keep Personal Personal a business interest, but it is so easily avoidable by
officers falling foul of any misuse issues. While on the subject of mobile phones: a propor- submitting an application (GMP Form: 0119R) and
Since the rollout started, we have been tion of police officers get into difficulty or cause waiting for approval before beginning the work or
asked questions around officers operational problems by giving out their personal receiving an income. Complete the application form
needing to respond to mobile numbers to people outside of GMP when and submit it to your line manager, who will then
work-related com- dealing with work matters. pass it on to your divisional commander before it is
munications, Although many officers do this in the belief that submitted to the professional standards branch.
emails or it makes life easier or even helps ‘the job’, they ac-
phone tually risk compromising themselves and in some Definition Of Business Interests
calls cases compromising the operational effective- (a) Being a member of a police force, the person
ness of GMP. The rollout of work mobile phones holds any office or employment for hire or gain
should negate the perceived need to do this, but (otherwise than as a member of a police force) or
please protect yourselves and do not give out carries on any business; or
your personal mobile phone numbers in (b) being a member of a police force or a relative
connection with your work. of a member, the person holds or possesses a
pecuniary interest in a licence or permit granted in
New Recruits pursuance of the law relating to alcohol licensing,
For the first time in a number of years, refreshment houses or betting and gaming or
we have had the pleasure of talking to regulating places of entertainment in the area of the
three intakes of new GMP srecruits. police force in question.”
These are made up of transferees Common examples of when the policy is appli-
from other police forces and most cable and when an application is required are:
recently as a result of an internal • Rental of property, even if the income does
recruitment process. As part not make a profit;
of the talk we delivered a • If you intend to take a career break and wish to
presentation, which many of undertake employment during the break;
you will have seen, on ‘how • If you have a family member who has a
to keep you safe’. This licensed premises within the GMP area (as per
highlights the common (b) above).
ways in which officers For full details and guidance please view
breach the standards the complete Business Interest for Police
of professional be- Officers policy on the GMP Force Intranet.

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