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Fury over moonlighting cops
Saturday, 27 September 2008
Cash-strapped PSNI officers have been moonlighting as hypnotherapists, cosmetic consultants and even children’s entertainers, the Belfast Telegraph can reveal.
They are among as many as 119 officers who have been given permission to pursue second jobs or business interests outside their police work in the last four years.
It has also emerged that one PSNI officer has been working as an assistant funeral director while another has served as a part-time fire officer.
The PSNI disclosed the details after a Freedom of Information request from this newspaper. There is no suggestion that any of the officers have acted improperly.
Home Office guidelines allow serving police officers to take on second jobs provided they do not interfere with policing or breach any codes of conduct.
But one MLA said police officers should be spending more time tackling Northern Ireland’s rising crime rate rather than trying to earn extra cash.
“This sends out completely the wrong message to the public,” said DUP chairman Lord Morrow. “These officers should be devoting their time to their chosen career, which is policing, and focusing only on tackling crime.
“Rising crime rates are a major concern to the public and these police officers who are multi-tasking, however small the number may be, should be concentrating on solving crime and reassuring the public. Indeed I am amazed that our PSNI officers even have time to do any further jobs.”
Statistics released to this newspaper showed dozens of officers across Northern Ireland were taking on extra work. The most common secondary income involves property — with 18 officers declaring it an additional interest.
Other interests were more diverse with one officer working as a substitute teacher and another as a complementary therapist.
Approval was also given for an officer to work in canine hydrotherapy, as a lorry driver and as an insolvency adviser.
Of those who registered business interests since 2005, 60 were constables, 21 were sergeants, 16 were inspectors and two were chief inspectors.
There were also successful applications from one superintendent and one chief superintendent, as well as 19 full-time reserve constables. Only six applications were rejected in the last four years. This included an officer who wanted to work in kitchen sales, another officer who applied to lecture or tutor and a third who intended to do consultancy work. Not all of the business interests were necessarily paid roles. One officer registered youth work while another successfully applied to design websites.
A Police Federation spokesman said a small number of officers had taken on additional work because of poor pay.
“Police officers in general have many restrictions on their lives but providing we are not talking about owning pubs or bookmakers there should be no reason why they should not be permitted other work.”
The current starting salary for a PSNI officer is around £22,000.
Sergeants are paid almost £34,000 while an inspector’s annual pay starts at £43,000.
A chief superintendent will earn at least £67,000 each year.
A PSNI spokesman said any officer who wanted to register a business interest had to submit a written application.
“For such an application to be approved there must be no conflict of interest, either actual or perceived, arising from the officer’s involvement in the business and their role as a police officer.”
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Comments
21 Comments
I know a fire fighter who on his days off does a number of other jobs! So are you saying he cant be concentrating on his full time job? What differnce does it make? At least they are out working. Not like the low life who take take take from the government then complain about them!
Posted by Eightch | 06.10.08, 15:01 GMT
Why not have another job as with many other people?
The data relating to pay is, however, very misleading as officers require few qualifications and allowances are not included in the data - give the data and include allowances and the fat redundancy payments at an early age.
It all appears to be greedy to retirees like myself.
Posted by robbo | 28.09.08, 19:14 GMT
How can MLAs complain about police officers multitasking,
when they can be MPs,MLAs,councillers and have their own
private businesses as well.
Posted by J Leathem | 28.09.08, 17:44 GMT
Mr Morrow must have very little to do himself if he can find time to get angry about police officers trying to earn a little extra money. typical politician. he doesn't seem to have offered any solutions to the issue of low pay in public services. then again he's probably used to spending his career criticising others knowing full well that his bluff wont be called and he'll enver be in the position to make any real decisions on these kind of issues. loser. What next, criticise the banks for causing the credit crunch, or maybe release an angry statement regarding the recent conflict in georgia; or maybe give us some pearls of wisdom in regards to the ongoing crisis at st james park? Go on guide us please.
Posted by pat mustard | 28.09.08, 15:28 GMT
The first duty of the police is the protection of the public and tackling crime. That is the career they have chosen.
If they are taking too many outside jobs it raises questions on their ability to remain focused on their work.
Posted by PFI909 | 28.09.08, 09:13 GMT
Boy oh Boy...as a police officer in Canada, I can tell you that you are looking at huge consequences in N. Ireland. How do you expect your officers to stay "clean" when you pay then that poorly!!! Perhaps you need to look at New York City to see how much corruption develops when those who uphold the law are faced with dealing with what the crooks deal wth!!!! Pay attention....you will suffer immensely if you don't!!!
Posted by Eyyyelash | 28.09.08, 02:10 GMT
I think they are already overpaid. Its time they did something worth while instead of hiding and catching someone over the speed limit by about 5 mph
Posted by SEANA | 28.09.08, 00:29 GMT
Why did my comment about chippies get censored? It was dead funny.
Posted by Gone gone gone | 27.09.08, 21:59 GMT
Mr Morrow really hasn't a clue! The DUP need to censure this balloon.
Does he not know according to figures, crime is down. Does he want Police to work for free after their detailed time. Does he also not know there is no overtime like it was years ago. I bet if someone was to request a FOI on him how much business and property interests he has. Most our MPs/Lords etc are MLAs, councillors sit in other paid bodies.
Posted by Dave | 27.09.08, 21:53 GMT
So what!- out of 7,500 police officers, 119 have another interest outside the 40hrs a week they are obliged to work!
Lets have an costly FOI Enquiry in to the number of Councillors, MLAs,MPs and Lords who have second jobs- sorry "outside interests".
Might make interesting reading.
I bet most of the 119 are getting ready to get out, having been demoralised by other public servants such as DUP person Morrow totally dismissing the contribution they have made to this country and its communities over the years.
This is daft- does that mean the Police Officers Part Time should not have their day jobs?
Those cheeky boys and girls should be concentrating on crime fighting!
Posted by Steve | 27.09.08, 20:42 GMT
How dare any politician criticise Police Officers for having more than one job. Can't he see the irony when most politicians have many jobs. Perhaps they are just so much more capable but I doubt it.
Posted by Davy | 27.09.08, 20:04 GMT
What about the MP's moonlighting as MLA's and Councillors, what about hospital consultants doing private work, as for Lord Morrow's comments, does he expect police officers to work 24 hours a day for 8 hours pay, for that matter does this paper?
Posted by Alex | 27.09.08, 19:58 GMT
How can Police men concentrate on their job if they are up to all hours working at something else. I accept they are allowed a life but does a superintendent on 70k or whatever need any more cash?? I agreee it sends out the wrong message.
Posted by Paul0606 | 27.09.08, 18:57 GMT
As long as the outside jobs to not conflict with their Police duties I do not see the problem. Perhaps if Lord Morrow were to live as Constable Morrow he may see things in a different light. I am sure many of the men mentioned would like to have his wages for the little work he does if watching the House of Lords on television is anything to go by. I would suggest that instead of turning purple in the face and going of on a rant he would be better thought of if he were to campaign for a wage that would perhaps not require people to have two careers. Maybe he should think before speaking , it may well be that these officers are preparing for a life after Policing. Lord Morrow should remember, a closed mouth gathers no feet. many jobs has he?.
Posted by Dave Crooks | 27.09.08, 17:56 GMT
Ah, but are they doing 40 hours per week? Obviously, the 'job' they are doing isn't too hard, otherwise the last thing on their mind would be another job.
Posted by Billy for the Truth | 27.09.08, 16:50 GMT
What is the point of this story,if a Police Officer wants to do earn extra money in his own time, and isn't in conflict with his job,good luck.As far as I understand most MP's and MLA's have other sources of income. If the police authority want to pay more overtime then most Police Officers would be happy to earn money doing their main form of employment.There is no way anybody is going to do it for nothing.I would like to ask Mr Morrow to do his job for nothing,I think I know his answer.
Posted by Gordon | 27.09.08, 16:00 GMT
Well said Dougy, absolutely correct. Police officers have every right to do this. It should not be a headline!
The sad fact of the matter is that all our emergency service personnel are totally undervalued and so poorly paid for the difficult and dangerous jobs they do, that they very often have to take on extra part time jobs to make ends meet.
Posted by T.J.McClean | 27.09.08, 15:29 GMT
What is the problem with ANYONE having a second job? I'll bet ALL the politicians have their hands in MANY baskets but you don't hear them gripe about that, do we?
Posted by CannuckCol | 27.09.08, 15:28 GMT
Moonlighting by PSNI officers is not about need, its greed. They must be living above their means. They should feel ashamed that they are short of cash, maybe it is that they are in the wrong vocation.
Posted by Billy North Belfast | 27.09.08, 14:17 GMT
Is it any wonder the Stormount Government is such a shambles when politicians such as Lord Morrow are running the country. From reading his comments he believes police officers should not be entitled to a life beyond the police service. Are they expected to devote every last minute to the job? Next he will be saying they should not be allowed to start a family or take part in sporting activities. It has been a perception for too long that police officers do nothing else but police, however they are just like everyone else in the community, only they perform an extraordinary job. I am sure most police officers would be only too willing to devote more time to the job if overtime payments were in place. Unfortunately we have now got the police service Mr Patton envisaged and the money is not there to pay overtime rates. Surely Lord Morrow does not expect the officers to sacrifice private and family time for no reward, I'm sure he, nor any of his MLA colleagues would.
Posted by dave | 27.09.08, 12:51 GMT
21 Comments