Victoria Police To Review Officers With Second Jobs
The Age
Monday June 23, 2008
SENIOR police are conducting a major review of officers with second jobs because of growing concerns that the system is open to rorts and some officers may be losing focus on their police duties.
The review is not expected to recommend a total ban on outside employment, but it is likely to push for tighter controls to avoid conflict of interests and to cap hours worked in second jobs.Police are banned from working in the security, liquor or gaming industries, but there is no professional audit of jobs and no central register. Senior police have no accurate figures on officers who work in second jobs and few checks are made on those who work without permission.Concerns about this issue surfaced when a policeman from the sexual offence and child abuse unit was working without permission at the Sexpo exhibition in 2006. Former detective senior constable Paul Hatzakortzian, 37, was also found to be dealing in drugs and jailed for a year after pleading guilty. This month the Ethical Standards Department suspended a leading senior constable. He was accused of fraudulently taking sick leave while working on a building site.Investigators also found cases where police on carer's or sick leave were working full-time in other jobs.The Office of Police Integrity revealed the policy on outside employment was inadequate, leaving the system open to conflicts of interest and improper associations. It has recommended that the force appoint an officer to monitor part-time work and review potential conflicts.The head of the Ethical Standards Department, Assistant Commissioner Luke Cornelius, said: "We are concerned about the abuse of secondary employment and want to manage the potential risks to the organisation."He said police were now paid a professional wage and should not need to pursue second jobs to the detriment of their main duties. "Some need to be reminded that their first responsibility and loyalty is to their primary employer, which is the Victoria Police," Mr Cornelius said.He cautioned that outside employment could increase occupational health and safety risks. "Police duties involve operating lethal equipment including firearms and vehicles. There are greater risks if people are coming to work dog tired," Mr Cornelius said.Senior police have also complained that 12-hour shifts followed by clusters of days off have added to the issue. Some officers are working up to 30 hours a week in second jobs. "They are called rest days for a reason," one manager said. "Now some of them are coming to work for a rest."Another grey area likely to be examined involves intellectual property, where police are using their specialist law enforcement training in outside jobs including teaching, consulting and investigating.Mr Cornelius said expertise gathered while employed by Victoria Police remained the property of the organisation. This could be used in other areas only as part of a licensed arrangement.Police Association legal manager Greg Davies said he was concerned about the possible impact of a new policy that was too strict."Members who rely on a second income may be forced to exit the police force early or they may just work without seeking permission," he said.Cases existed where second jobs had been unreasonably refused, he said. In one case, a country policeman was told he could not help clear plates at his wife's cafe because it had a BYO licence and was seen as connected to the liquor industry."We just hope that a modicum of common sense is applied in the area," Mr Davies said.KEY POINTS ? Tighter controls likely to avoid conflict of interests and to cap hours worked in second jobs.? A total ban on outside employment is not expected.? Police Association is concerned about possible restrictions.
© 2008 The Age