Council to use secret police techniques to spy on sick employees

Council set to spy on 'sicky' takers
26 June 2006 | 08:59

COVERT surveillance techniques are to be used by a west Suffolk council
in a bid to crackdown on staff taking "sickies".

Unison last night voiced concerns over St Edmundsbury Borough Council's
inclusion of a "surveillance" section in the final draft of its new
"sickness absence and ill health policy and procedure" document.

Although the council refused to state whether it had carried out any
investigations in the past year against staff whose absences were
deemed suspicious, the council's general absenteeism rate has fallen
from nine days per year per employee to 8.8 days.

Despite improved attendance among its staff, the council has drawn up
plans for using covert surveillance to catch workers believed to be
abusing the system.

But the council claimed spy-style techniques would only be used against
its own staff following "careful consideration".

The council ruled out drafting in private investigators. Instead,
covert surveillance will be undertaken by "suitably trained council
officers", according to the local authority.

The council would not divulge what forms of covert surveillance it
would use to catch suspected staff, but it not deny that long-lens
cameras would be used.

In its draft document, the council said: "The council may undertaken
surveillance or notify the Inland Revenue where there is cause for
reasonable suspicion that an employee is in breach of the sickness
absence policy/procedure.

"Covert surveillance, where there are suspicions of breach of the
rules under the sickness absence scheme, a suspicion of gross
misconduct or fraud, will be proportionate and key to any investigation
which we are bound to carry out.

"Covert surveillance will take place only when absolutely necessary
to establish the facts of a case, and will be in accordance with the
Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act Code of Practice on Covert
Surveillance."

But Sasha Pearce, Unison's regional organiser for Suffolk, said Unison
was concerned about covert surveillance being used against council
employees.

She said the union would be seeking clarification and provisos in the
policy, such as only using covert surveillance in cases where the
council had proper information that somebody had been off sick and was
flouting the rules - such as taking on a second paid job.

She also wanted guarantees that all staff would be told about the
policy and that it was clearly explained to them.

A spokeswoman for the council said: "This policy will allow suitably
trained council officers to look into suspicious absences in the most
appropriate manner following careful consideration of all the facts.

"Compared with some other public sector employers, our sickness rate
is low. This is because we actively support our staff to minimise
illness, in the long term providing a more efficient service and the
best possible value for council taxpayers."

Asked whether there was an issue with "sickies" at the council and
whether there had been any investigations in the past year, the council
declined to divulge any details citing "confidentiality issues".



Local government and surveillance in light of the Regulation of
Investigatory Powers Act (2000):

n Local authorities can carry out "directed surveillance" which is
covert but not intrusive, including the taking of photographs or other
images from a distance.

n Councils can also apply for "authorisation" to carry out
"covert surveillance" which includes interception of postal and
telephone communications.

n Surveillance in residential premises or in private vehicles is
classed as "intrusive" surveillance and requires authorisation
from, in the case of local authorities, the chief executive.

n Phone tapping and interfering with property - such as installing
listening devices - can only be carried out by the intelligence
services, the police, the National Criminal Intelligence Service, the
National Crime Squad and HM Customs and Excise.

Source:
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