Police and MoJ staff disciplined for social networking abuse

Four Ministry of Justice officials sacked and disciplinary proceedings brought against 28 police officers for breaching rules

Scotland Yard has launched disciplinary proceedings against 28 police officers

More than 70 staff at two of Britain’s leading law enforcement agencies have been disciplined for misusing the internet and social networking web sites over the past 18 months, according to official figures released today.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has sacked four officials and issued final warnings to three others for misusing social networking sites.

And Scotland Yard has launched disciplinary proceedings against 28 police officers for breaching rules on social networking sites.

Eighteen Scotland Yard officers received written warnings for misusing the sites, five were given “words of advice” and four issued with a “formal misconduct” charge.

The Metropolitan Police Service (Met) also disciplined five civilian staff for committing the same offence in the past 18 months, dismissing one of them.

The incidents occurred despite social networking bans at the Met and the MoJ – those who had infringed the rules had obtained special permission to use the sites for professional reasons.

Both bodies have training and guidance for staff on social networking.

An MoJ spokesman said: "MoJ policy is that staff cannot access social networking sites for personal reasons. They are only allowed to access the sites for professional reasons if they are able to provide a strong business case showing they need to use them to perform their role."

Scotland Yard has a nine-point guide advising officers not to disclose they are police, compromise themselves or the force or bring the service into disrepute if using social networking sites in their own time.

The Met said in a statement: "All MPS police officers and police staff are expected to adhere to the MPS Information Code of Conduct, which sets out the policy on the use of MPS Information and information communication and technology systems. The MPS Directorate of Information issues regular reminders to staff on the importance of ensuring they comply with this policy."

The information came from a Freedom of Information request by technology consultants Lewis Communications.

The Cabinet Office last year published a set of ethical guidelines for civil servants about using social networking forums. Digital engagement enthusiasts are keen to get bureaucrats to engage online, but access policies are still left at departments' discretion.

In 2008 a blog by a civil servant known as "Civil Serf" was silenced and an inquiry launched into the identity of its author after the media began to publicise it.