Thin 'Blue' Line
The BBC reported last week that 17 officers from the Lothian and Borders Police are facing misconduct charges - over racist and sexist e-mails circulated on the internal police system.
Apparently the e-mails range from the insensitive to the indelicate - to the downright dirty - but the detailed contents of the e-mails has not been made public at this stage.
Deputy Chief Constable Bill Skelly said:
"I consider this to be a very serious matter and have instructed that a 51-year-old police officer is suspended and that further inquiries should be carried out.
Initial work has identified another 20 individuals - 16 officers and four police staff - who appear to be involved in this issue.
They have been spoken to and advised that they are subject to misconduct inquiries."
The Deputy Chief Constable also said that while inquiries were ongoing it would inappropriate to comment further - but I don't really buy that argument I have to say.
Seems to me that the content of these e-mails is a matter of real public interest.
I would certainly like to know how offensive the comments were - the context in which they were made - and the seniority of the staff involved.
Because that information does not undermine the confidentiality of internal disciplinary proceedings - and reassure the public about any subsequent disciplinary action that is taken against the individuals concerned.
The amazing thing is that just about every major organisation in the land has well developed policies for avoiding and preventing such behaviour - and one of the last places you would expect to see it raising its head is inside the Police Force.
Which is all the more reason for the police to act openly and transparently - and explain how they are dealing with the alleged wrongdoers.
