'This is just like Big Brother' — outrage after Dundee City Council admits spending £51,000 on private detectives to spy on staff
Opposition leaders in Dundee have criticised the city council over the revelation that it had spent more than £51,000 to spy on its own workers.
- By Alan Wilson
- Published in the Courier : 30.08.11
- Published online : 30.08.11 @ 10.08am
The city council, which has announced cuts of £15 million to services this year, admitted spending the money to hire private detectives to investigate staff suspected of taking unauthorised sick leave or finishing work early.
Council officials said they had used private investigators from two firms on four occasions to probe gross misconduct, which was said to have resulted in a handful of sackings.
Labour's Kevin Keenan, the Conservative group's Rod Wallace and Lib Dem councillor Fraser Macpherson were outraged at the news, with Mr Keenan accusing the council of using "Big Brother" tactics.
The group leaders say the money could have been better spent on frontline services and will be contacting chief executive David Dorward to ask him to justify the spending.
Reports stated the surveillance operations involved watching homes and taking videos and photos of employees and, while only a few people were sacked as a result of their investigations, it has been suggested at least one worker won their job back.
A freedom of information investigation revealed that only two other authorities — Glasgow and Fife — had hired private investigators. Glasgow spent just over £4000, while Fife laid out £600.
Dundee City Council, which has more than 600 staff, confirmed it had paid £51,819 to two firms of undercover agents.
Mr Keenan said: "I think it's absolutely shocking that this is the tactics used by the administration. This is just like Big Brother is watching every individual. The managers should be doing their jobs instead of spending £50,000 employing people to squint round corners making sure people are doing their job.
"The managers should be looking at themselves — are they managing their processes efficiently? What has gone so far wrong that they have to employ private investigators instead of managing their staff properly?
"This is £51,000 that could have been spent driving up qualifications in our schools and every other councillor in Dundee will tell you they could spend that money improving services in their own wards."
Continued...
10.28am - 30.08.2011 Alan Smithee - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Why is it,that Dundee City Council spends 10 times the amount the larger councils spend with little to show for it,I remember the Labour Council got the blame in the past,Nothing Changes!
11.33am - 30.08.2011 Council Taxpayer - Dundee, SCOTLAND Report This
Sadly due to the rights of employees, the council probably had no other tools available to them for getting rid of some lazy staff who couldn't be bothered going to work but were quite happy to take the pay and later a great pension for nothing!! If this saved £51K in annual salarys its well spent.
01.02pm - 30.08.2011 Dan D Mann - DUNDEE, SCOTLAND Report This
Officials said they had used private investigators on 4 occasions to probe gross misconduct. Mr Keenan said "This is just like Big Brother is watching every individual." For the millionth time Mr Keenan, stop exaggerating!!!
01.35pm - 30.08.2011 Fellow Payer - Dundee, Scotland Report This
Couldnt agree more with Council Taxpayers comments above, well said.
01.41pm - 30.08.2011 R73 - Dundee, Scotland Report This
I agree Council Taxpayer re getting rid of lazy workers reaping the benefits, however, surely this should have been the task of the "Managers" not some private detective.
03.21pm - 30.08.2011 Steven Bird - Dundee, Scotland Report This
@R73 - Due to union regulations it's impossible to dismiss a council worker unless they physically assault someone. Shockingly, managers do not have the authority to sack people. Dismissals have to go through a long drawn out process (taking months or even years) via the Personnel department.
03.22pm - 30.08.2011 F.C. - Dundee, Scotland U.K. Report This
Saving taxpayers money is laudable, however HR should be assisting managers in this task. So why is the ruling SNP group pouring money into the private sector?
03.41pm - 30.08.2011 Council Taxpayer - Dundee, SCOTLAND Report This
@R73, gone are the days where you can sack someone for being lazy, or not turning up to their work for 6 mth due to some fake illness. Employment law is well and truly on the side of the employee, leaving the employers effectivly stuck with "milking it" employees or facing a no win no fee tribrual.
07.38pm - 30.08.2011 jones - Dundee, uk Report This
council taxpayer, it wouldn't have saved any money, how could it when it cost 51 thousand, and new employees would have to have been hired to fill the jobs of the people sacked.
06.51am - 31.08.2011 Francis Gammon - Dundee, Scotland Report This
@jones - It is naive of you to think new employees would need to be hired to replace those sacked. You seem to forget this is Dundee City Council where lax Labour spending policy in years gone by meant over-staffing was the norm.
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