Workers were warned yesterday that they face disciplinary action
if they use office computers to sign the Downing Street petition
calling for the scrapping of road pricing proposals.
The curbs faced by individuals wanting to protest emerged as
Dorset Police launched an internal investigation into the circulation
of an email which urged staff to back the campaign.
An inquiry has been launched by the force's Professional Standards
Department and those who endorsed the protest could face disciplinary
action.
While the Association of Chief Police Officers insisted that
this was a matter for individual forces, the Dorset stance is
likely to be adopted elsewhere. Forces will be anxious to maintain
political neutrality.
It also highlighted the restriction on political activity in
both national and local government, which could leave many in
the public sector vulnerable if they add their names to the list
while at work.
Peter Roberts, 46, an account manager from Telford, Shropshire,
began the campaign against road charging and the "sinister
idea of tracking every vehicle" by placing the petition on
the Downing Street website.
Last night it was approaching 1.5 million signatures. If the
number of people signing continues at the same rate, the two million
mark should be reached by Tuesday.
The organisers demand a valid email address before they will
add a name to the petition. Those wishing to sign will be sent
an email containing a link which verifies their identity. It is
designed to prevent individuals signing multiple names.
Anyone using a workplace computer would automatically give an
email address which would associate their employer with their
decision to back the campaign.
"It is like sending a letter using office notepaper,"
said Michael Ryley an employment lawyer with Pinsent Masons in London.
"If I use an employer's computer, there is the risk that the
company or organisation could be liable for the consequences. That
is why a number impose very strict restrictions on its use."
It was these considerations which underpinned the stance of Dorset
Police.
Clive Chamberlain, the chairman of the Dorset branch of the Police
Federation, said that officers were free to sign the petition
using computers at home, but not work machines.
"If there is any disciplinary action, I hope that it will
be proportionate. A reminder of force policy should suffice."
But Mr Roberts, the author of the petition, described the Dorset
restrictions as petty. "This is not party political at all.
It is expressing a preference, they should live and let live."
The petition, which at one point crashed the Downing Street website,
will be taken down on Feb 20, much to the relief of some ministers,
who believe the exercise in bringing democracy to people's computer
screens has been a massive public relations own goal.
Downing Street said that it will respond to the petition - probably
by sending individual emails to those who signed it - once the
consultation process is complete.
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